grandfather

[ gran-fah-ther, grand- ]

noun

1. the father of one's father or mother.
2. a forefather.
3. the founder or originator of a family, species, type, etc.; the first of one's or its kind, or the one being longest in existence:

   the grandfather of all steam locomotives.

verb (used with object)

1. to exempt (something or someone) from new legislation, restrictions, or requirements:

   The law grandfathered all banks already operating at the time of passage. He was grandfathered into the pension plan.

grandfather

/ ˈɡrænd-; ˈɡrænˌfɑːðə /

noun

1. the father of one's father or mother
2. often plural a male ancestor
3. often capital a familiar term of address for an old man
4. dialect.
   a caterpillar or woodlouse

Word History and Origins

Origin of grandfather¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; grand-, father

Example Sentences

He goes on the run with his grandfather, Baldwin’s Harlan Rust.

From BBC

A teen, Karin, is left by her ne’er-do-well widowed father in the care of her grandfather at a temple.

From Los Angeles Times

A 10-year-old boy and his grandfather have joined forces to set up a luxury woodwork business.

From BBC

She was 11 when she found the words to tell her mother that she had been abused by her grandfather.

From BBC

As a Latino, Avila said he was especially upset by Perez’s recorded comments telling Latino students that a lot of their fathers, uncles, and grandfathers “want to be white.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ancestor
• grandpa
• patriarch