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 another
2 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