progenitor

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
progenitor
    n 1: an ancestor in the direct line [syn: {progenitor},
         {primogenitor}]
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Progenitor \Pro*gen"i*tor\, n. [OF. progeniteur, L. progenitor,
   fr. progignere, progenitum, to bring forth, to beget; pro
   forth + gignere to beget. See {Gender} kind.]
   An ancestor in the direct line; a forefather.
   [1913 Webster]

         And reverence thee their great progenitor. --Milton.
   [1913 Webster]
from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
37 Moby Thesaurus words for "progenitor":
      ancestor, ancestors, ancestress, antecedent, antecedents,
      archetype, ascendant, ascendants, begetter, elders, fathers,
      forebear, forebears, forefather, forefathers, foregoer, forerunner,
      grandfathers, grandparent, grandparents, guide, origin, original,
      originator, parent, patriarchs, pattern, precursor, predecessor,
      predecessors, primogenitor, procreator, progenitors, progenitress,
      progenitrix, prototype, source
antiflux / dictionary / progenitor
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