Definition of PROGENITOR

progenitor

Plural: progenitors

Noun

  • an ancestor in the direct line
  • A forefather, any of a person's direct ancestors.
  • A person from whom one or more people (dynasty, tribe, nation…) are descended.
  • An ancestral form of a species.
  • A predecessor of something, especially if also a precursor or model.
  • Someone who originates something.
  • A founder.

Examples

  • Abraham, alias Ibrahim, is the presumed progenitor of both the Jewish and Arab peoples.
  • Are neural progenitor cells infected by Zika virus?
  • ARPANET was the progenitor of the Internet.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English progenitour, from Anglo-Norman progenitour, Middle French progeniteur (Modern French progéniteur), and their etymon Latin prōgenitor, from prōgenitus, perfect participle of prōgignere (“to beget”), itself from prō- (“forth”) + gignere (“to beget”). By surface analysis, pro- (“prior, fore-”) + genitor.

Scrabble Score: 13

progenitor: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
progenitor: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
progenitor: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 16

progenitor: valid Words With Friends Word