primogenitor
[prahy-muh-jen-i-ter]
- a first parent or earliest ancestor: Adam and Eve are the primogenitors of the human race.
- a forefather or ancestor.
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Origin of primogenitor
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
lineage, derivation, bloodline, forebear, founder, forefather, origin, parentage, descent, genealogy, antecedent, extraction, heritage, ancestor, predecessor, parent, precursor, begetter, primogenitor, familyprimogenitor
- a forefather; ancestor
- an earliest parent or ancestor, as of a race
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Word Origin
C17: alteration of progenitor after primogeniture
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for primogenitor
n.
"an ancestor," late 15c., from Medieval Latin primogenitor, from Latin primo (adv.) "first in order of time; at first," from primus "first" (see prime (adj.)) + genitor "father," from genitus, past participle of gignere "to beget" (see genus). Related: Primogenital; primogenitary. The fem. form is primogenitrix (1875). The rights of a second son are secundogeniture.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper