n.
- a man in relation to his child or children.
▸a male animal in relation to its offspring.
▸a man who provides care and protection.
▸the oldest member of a society or other body.
▸
(the Father)
(in Christian belief) the first person of the Trinity; God.
- a man who introduces or founds something.
▸
(Fathers or Fathers of the Church)
early Christian theologians who are regarded as especially authoritative.
- (often as a title or form of address) a priest.
v.
- be the father of.
▸
[usu. as noun fathering]
treat with fatherly care.
▸be the source or originator of.
-
(father someone/thing on)
assign paternity of a child or responsibility for something to.
Phrase
- how's your father
Brit. informal a euphemistic way of referring to sexual intercourse.
Derivative
- fatherhood n.
- fatherless adj.
- fatherlessness n.
- fatherlike adj. & adv.
Etymology
OE fæder, of Gmc origin, from an Indo-Eur. root shared by L. pater and Gk patēr.