progenitor

[ proh-jen-i-ter ]

noun

1. a biologically related ancestor:

   a progenitor of the species.

2. a person or thing that first indicates a direction, originates something, or serves as a model; predecessor; precursor:

   the progenitor of modern painting.

progenitor

/ prəʊˈdʒɛnɪtə /

noun

1. a direct ancestor
2. an originator or founder of a future development; precursor

Other Words From

• pro·gen·i·to·ri·al [proh-jen-i-, tawr, -ee-, uh, l, -, tohr, -], adjective
• pro·geni·tor·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of progenitor¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin prōgenitor the founder of a family. See pro- ¹, genitor

Word History and Origins

Origin of progenitor¹

C14: from Latin: ancestor, from pro- ¹+ genitor parent, from gignere to beget

Example Sentences

There is no direct evidence for this, nor any indication that SARS-CoV-2 or a progenitor was being studied at the lab, let alone that someone who worked there was infected.

From Vox

It was also a recognition that its wild progenitor had been all but destroyed during the preceding century thanks to the invention of the steel plow.

From Washington Post

Reading the researchers’ results, she says, “I got pretty excited, especially about the identification of the progenitor.”

From Science News

Some of these new kids on the seltzer block are far different than their progenitors.

From Washington Post

The cool, large, yellow progenitor of SN 2019yvr, on the other hand, appeared to be padded with lots of hydrogen.

From Science News

That extra spin in the progenitor star might have been enough to give the neutron star more magnetic power, making it a magnetar.

From The Daily Beast

So the name is appropriate if this machine is the progenitor of a robot race that will one day go to war.

From The Daily Beast

FYMW is, in some ways, the progenitor of menswear on Tumblr.

From The Daily Beast

Stylistically it is a progenitor of Invisible Man, which Ellison described as “realism that goes beyond and becomes surrealism.”

From The Daily Beast

He is a progenitor of what could be called the degenerate school of American fiction.

From The Daily Beast

He assumed to be a king; but the son of Ocrisia became one in reality, and instituted games in honour of his divine progenitor.

From Project Gutenberg

The pure-bred Peruvian horse is more elegantly formed than his Andalusian progenitor.

From Project Gutenberg

The natives call this little animal the Cui del Montes, and they believe it to be the progenitor of the tame Guinea pig.

From Project Gutenberg

Each day foretells the next, if one could read the signs; to-day is the progenitor of to-morrow.

From Project Gutenberg

Those who hold that Adam was the progenitor of the Jews only, and not of the whole human race.

From Project Gutenberg