forefather

fore·fa·ther

noun \-ˌfä-thər\

Definition of FOREFATHER

1

: ancestor 1a

2

: a person of an earlier period and common heritage

Examples of FOREFATHER

1. <our forefathers bought this farm, and our family has worked it for three generations>

First Known Use of FOREFATHER

14th century

Related to FOREFATHER

Synonyms: father, forebear (also forbear), forebearer, ancestor, grandfather, primogenitor, progenitor

Antonyms: descendant (also descendent)

Related Words: antecessor, predecessor [archaic]; ancestress, foremother, grandmother, matriarch; grandsire [archaic], patriarch, sire [archaic]; ancestry, antecedents, roots

Near Antonyms: children, family, issue, lineage, offspring, posterity, progeny, seed, stock; daughter, heir, inheritor, scion, son, successor

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Rhymes with FOREFATHER

godfather, grandfather, housefather, Our Father, stepfather