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progenitor

 - 5 dictionary results

pro⋅gen⋅i⋅tor

  [proh-jen-i-ter]
Use progenitor in a Sentence
–noun
1. a biologically related ancestor: a progenitor of the species.
2. a person or thing that first indicates a direction, originates something, or serves as a model; predecessor; precursor: the progenitor of modern painting.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L prōgenitor the founder of a family. See pro- 1 , genitor

Related forms:
pro⋅gen⋅i⋅to⋅ri⋅al  [proh-jen-i-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-] , adjective
pro⋅gen⋅i⋅tor⋅ship, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To progenitor
pro·gen·i·tor   (prō-jěn'ĭ-tər)   
n.  

  1. A direct ancestor. See Synonyms at ancestor.

  2. An originator of a line of descent; a precursor.

  3. An originator; a founder: progenitors of the new music.


[Middle English progenitour, from Old French progeniteur, from Latin prōgenitor, from prōgenitus, past participle of prōgignere, to beget : prō-, forward; see pro-1 + gignere, gen-, to beget; see genə- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

progenitor 
1382, from Anglo-Fr. progenitour (1347), O.Fr. progeniteur, from L. progenitorem (nom. progenitor) "ancestor," agent noun from progenitus, pp. of progignere (see progeny).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: pro·gen·i·tor
Pronunciation: prO-'jen-&t-&r, pr&-
Function: noun
1 : an ancestor of an individual in adirect line of descent along which some or all of the ancestral genes could theoretically have passed
2 : a biologically ancestral form
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

progenitor pro·gen·i·tor (prō-jěn'ĭ-tər)
n.

  1. A direct ancestor.

  2. An originator of a line of descent.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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