grandfather

American  

[gran-fah-ther, grand-] / ˈgrænˌfɑ ðər, ˈgrænd- /

noun

1. the father of one's father or mother.

2. a forefather.

3. the founder or originator of a family, species, type, etc.; the first of one's or its kind, or the one being longest in existence.

   the grandfather of all steam locomotives.

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verb (used with object)

1. to exempt (something or someone) from new legislation, restrictions, or requirements.

   The law grandfathered all banks already operating at the time of passage. He was grandfathered into the pension plan.

grandfather British  

/ ˈɡrænd-, ˈɡrænˌfɑːðə /

noun

1. the father of one's father or mother

2. (often plural) a male ancestor

3. (often capital) a familiar term of address for an old man

4. dialect a caterpillar or woodlouse

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Etymology

Origin of grandfather

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; grand-, father

Example Sentences

It tells the story of a grandfather who educates his granddaughter Mona about the beauty of art after she is told by doctors she risks going blind.

From Barron's

Babci sat at her kitchen table, wearing one of my grandfather’s old dress shirts, her hair half up and half down, the picture of a ragamuffin.

From Literature

First thing in the morning I’d follow Ma and Togbe, my grandfather, even when they tried to shoo me off to school.

From Literature

The son of The Night Manager author has said the series' villain is inspired by his own "evil" grandfather.

From BBC

He spoke of his religiosity — his grandfather and great-grandfather were Baptist preachers — and talked at length about the optimism, a political rarity these days, that undergirds his vision for the country.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ancestor
• grandpa
• patriarch