progenitor

noun

pro·​gen·​i·​tor prō-ˈje-nə-tər How to pronounce progenitor (audio)
prə-
1
a
: an ancestor in the direct line : forefather
b
: a biologically ancestral form
2
: precursor, originator
progenitors of socialist ideasThe Times Literary Supplement (London)
progenitor cells

Examples of progenitor in a Sentence

the progenitors of modern art wild cats that were the progenitors of the house cat
Recent Examples on the Web But Gilmour, who joined psych-prog progenitors Pink Floyd two years after the band’s 1965 inception, proved vibrant and vital at his fourth show in Los Angeles and final evening of a three-night-stand at the Hollywood Bowl. Katherine Turman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024 Among the astronomers, it is generally believed that these nuclei are the fragments released from a common progenitor. Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024 And while Luft had numerous examples of the progenitor for Porsche displayed throughout the sprawling exhibition space, a 356B Cabriolet drew some of the biggest crowds, not only for its distinctive styling but for its A-list owner. Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2024 The progenitor of party culture, no one did it better than Puff Daddy back in the day. Amy Dubois Barnett, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for progenitor 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'progenitor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English progenitour, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin prōgenitor "individual from whom a person or family is descended, ancestor," agentive derivative of prōgignere "to produce as offspring, bring into being, give rise to" (from prō- pro- entry 2 + gignere "to bring into being, beget, give birth to"), after genitor "father, parent, originator," going back to Indo-European *ǵenh1- "engender, beget" + *-tor/*-tōr, agent suffix, from which also Greek genétōr "father, begetter, ancestor," Sanskrit janitar-, janitá "father, progenitor" — more at kin entry 1

Note: Alternatively genitor has been explained as a new formation based on genitus, past participle of gignere. The older and still somewhat more attractive view sees genitus as the new formation, based on the perfect genuī or on genitor itself, after the connection with the original verbal adjective (g)nātus (going back to zero-grade *ǵn̥h1-to-) became weakened.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of progenitor was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near progenitor

Cite this Entry

“Progenitor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/progenitor. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

progenitor

noun
pro·​gen·​i·​tor prō-ˈjen-ət-ər, prə- How to pronounce progenitor (audio)
1
: an ancestor of an individual in a direct line of descent along which some or all of the ancestral genes could theoretically have passed
2
: a biologically ancestral form

More from Merriam-Webster on progenitor

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