forefather

[fawr-fah-ther, fohr-]

noun

1. an ancestor.

   Synonyms: forerunner, patriarch, progenitor, forebear

forefather

/ ˈfɔːˌfɑːðə /

noun

1. an ancestor, esp a male

Other Word Forms

• forefatherly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of forefather¹

First recorded in 1250–1300, forefather is from the Middle English word forefader. See fore-, father

Example Sentences

Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple were also forefathers of the movement, but it was Sabbath that "cemented it," adds Taylor.

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As the forefather of 'juego de posicion', the 'positional play' that has dominated world football since his Barcelona side won everything 15 years ago, this is a sizeable admission.

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"The house bears the footprints of my forefathers – the house to me is on hallowed ground."

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He fears having to sell off parts of his family's 700-acre hill farm near Bridgend to afford a future tax bill, saying his forefathers would be "turning in their graves".

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His ability to take bold, audacious business risks informed a high-profile acquisition strategy that kept the salt-to-steel conglomerate founded 155 years ago by his forefathers relevant after India liberalised its economy in the 1990s.

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