progenitor

Meaning

Noun

• A forefather, any of a person's direct ancestors.
• An individual from whom one or more people (dynasty, tribe, nation...) are descended.
• An ancestral form of a species.
• A predecessor of something, especially if also a precursor or model.
• Someone who originates something.
• A founder.

Origin

• From Middle English, from Middle French progeniteur (Modern French progéniteur), from Latin progenitor, from progenitus, perfect participle of progignere, itself from pro- + gignere.