parent

Meanings

Noun

• One of the two persons from whom one is immediately biologically descended; a mother or father.
• A surrogate parent
• A third person who has provided DNA samples in an IVF procedure in order to alter faulty genetic material
• A person who acts as a parent in rearing a child; a step-parent or adoptive parent.
• A relative.
• The source or origin of something.
• An organism from which a plant or animal is immediately biologically descended.
• Sponsor, supporter, owner, protector.
• The object from which a child or derived object is descended; a node superior to another node.

Verb

• To act as parent, to raise or rear.

Origin

• From Middle English parent, borrowed from Anglo-Norman parent, Middle French parent, from Latin parentem, accusative of parēns, present participle of parere.