Main Entry:

¹par·ent

Pronunciation:

\ˈper-ənt\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin parent-, parens; akin to Latin parere to give birth to

Date:

15th century

1 a: one that begets or brings forth offspring b: a person who brings up and cares for another2 a: an animal or plant that is regarded in relation to its offspring b: the material or source from which something is derived c: a group from which another arises and to which it usually remains subsidiary <a parent company>

— parent adjective

— pa·ren·tal \pə-ˈren-t^əl\ adjective

— pa·ren·tal·ly \-t^əl-ē\ adverb

— par·ent·less \ˈper-ənt-ləs\ adjective