n. He who begets a child; the nearest male ancestor; a male parent: so called in relation to the child.n. A male ancestor more remote than a parent; a lineal male ancestor, especially the first ancestor; the progenitor or founder of a race, family, or line: as, Ishmael was the father of the Bedouins of the desert.n. One who through marriage or adoption occupies the position of a male parent; a father-in-law; a stepfather.n. One who exercises paternal care over another; a fatherly protector or provider.n. [capitalized] The Supreme Being.n. [capitalized] In orthodox Christian phraseology, the first person of the Trinity.n. A respectful title bestowed on a venerable man; an appellation of reverence or honor: as, Father Abraham.n. A title given to dignitaries of the Roman Catholic and Eastern churches, to officers of monasteries and commonly to monks in general, and to confessors and priests.n. A member of one of various Roman Catholic fraternities: as, Fathers of the Oratory, etc.n. The title of a senator in ancient Rome. See conscript fathers, under conscript.n. The eldest member of any profession, or of any body: as, father of the bar (the oldest practitioner of law); father of the House of Representatives or of the House of Commons (the man who has been a member of the body for the longest continuous period).n. In universities, originally, a regent master fulfilling certain functions toward an inceptor; now, a fellow of a college appointed to attend a university examination in the interest of the students of that college.n. One who creates, invents, originates, or establishes anything; the author, former, or contriver; a founder, director, or instructor; the first to practise any art; specifically, in the plural, the authors, founders, or first promoters of any great work, movement, or organization: as, Gutenberg was the father of printing; the fathers of the church (which see, below); the pilgrim fathers (see pilgrim); the fathers of the American Constitution.n. In general, any real or apparent generating cause or source; that which gives rise to anything; a mainspring or moving element in a system or a process: as, “the boy is father of the man.”To beget as a father; become the father or progenitor of.To acknowledge or treat as a son or daughter; act as a father toward.To assume as one's own; profess or acknowledge one's self to be the owner or author of.To give a father to; furnish with a father.To ascribe or charge to one as his offspring or production; fix the generation or authorship of: with on or upon.n. The Sultan of Turkey.
