Definitions for father
ˈfɑ ðərfa·ther

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.5 / 2 votes

1. father, male parent, begetternoun

   a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

   "his father was born in Atlanta"

2. forefather, father, sirenoun

   the founder of a family

   "keep the faith of our forefathers"

3. Father, Padrenoun

   `Father' is a term of address for priests in some churches (especially the Roman Catholic Church or the Orthodox Catholic Church); `Padre' is frequently used in the military

4. Church Father, Father of the Church, Fathernoun

   (Christianity) any of about 70 theologians in the period from the 2nd to the 7th century whose writing established and confirmed official church doctrine; in the Roman Catholic Church some were later declared saints and became Doctor of the Church; the best known Latin Church Fathers are Ambrose, Augustine, Gregory the Great, and Jerome; those who wrote in Greek include Athanasius, Basil, Gregory Nazianzen, and John Chrysostom

5. fathernoun

   a person who holds an important or distinguished position in some organization

   "the tennis fathers ruled in her favor"; "the city fathers endorsed the proposal"

6. Father, Father-God, Fatherhoodnoun

   God when considered as the first person in the Trinity

   "hear our prayers, Heavenly Father"

7. founder, beginner, founding father, fathernoun

   a person who founds or establishes some institution

   "George Washington is the father of his country"

8. don, fatherverb

   the head of an organized crime family

9. beget, get, engender, father, mother, sire, generate, bring forthverb

   make children

   "Abraham begot Isaac"; "Men often father children but don't recognize them"

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.3 / 4 votes

1. fathernoun

   A male who sires (and often raises) a child.

   My father was a strong influence on me.

2. fathernoun

   A male donator of sperm which resulted in conception or fertilisation

3. fathernoun

   A term of address for an elderly man.

   Come, father; you can sit here.

4. fathernoun

   A person who plays the role of a father in some way.

5. fathernoun

   The founder of a discipline or science.

   Albert Einstein is the father of modern physics.

6. fatherverb

   To be a father to; to sire.

7. fatherverb

   To give rise to.

8. fatherverb

   To act as a father; to support and nurture.

9. Fathernoun

   God, the father of Creation

10. Fathernoun

    A title given to priests.

    Father Thomas was a good priest.

11. Fathernoun

    One's father

    I will only do what Father asks.

12. Fathernoun

    One of the triune gods of the Horned God in Wicca alongside the Master and Sage and representing a man; younger than a Sage and older than a Master

13. Etymology: From fader, from fæder, from fadēr (cf. East Frisian foar, Dutch vader, German Vater), from ph₂tḗr (cf. Irish athair, Tocharian A pācar, B pācer, Lithuanian patinas 'male animal'), akin to pater, akin to Ancient Greek πατήρ.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. FATHERnoun

   Etymology: fæðer, Saxon; aaher, Erse. This word is found likewise in the Persian language.

   1. He by whom the son or daughter is begotten.

   Father is a notion superinduced to the substance, or man, and refers only to an act of that thing called man, whereby he contributed to the generation of one of his own kind. John Locke.

   Son of Bensalem, thy father saith it; the man by whom thou hast breath and life speaketh the word. Francis Bacon.

   He shall forget
   Father and mother, and to his wife adhere. John Milton, Pa. Lost.

   2. The first ancestor.

   It was said
   It should not stand in thy posterity;
   But that myself should be the root and father
   Of many kings. William Shakespeare, Macbeth.

   Abraham is the father of us all. Rom. iv. 16.

   3. The appellation of an old man.

   A poor blind man was accounted cunning in prognosticating weather: Epsom, a lawyer, said in scorn, Tell me, father, when doth the sun change? The old man answered, when such a wicked lawyer as you goeth to heaven. William Camden.

   4. The title of any man reverend for age, learning, and piety.

   You shall find one well accompanied
   With reverend fathers and well learned bishops. William Shakespeare, R. III.

   5. One who has given original to any thing good or bad.

   Jubal was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. Gen. iv. 21.

   6. The ecclesiastical writers of the first centuries.

   Men may talk of the fathers, and magnify the fathers, and seem to make the authority of the fathers next to infallible; and yet none expose them more to contempt than they which give such answers as these. Edward Stillingfleet.

   7. One who acts with paternal care and tenderness.

   I was a father to the poor. Job xxix. 16.

   He hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house Gen. xlv. 8.

   8. The title of a popish confessor, particularly of a Jesuit.

   Formal in apparel,
   In gait and countenance surely like a father. William Shakespeare.

   There was in this place a father of a convent, who was very much renowned for his piety and exemplary life; and as it is usual, under any great affliction, to apply themselves to the most eminent confessors, our beautiful votary took the opportunity of confessing herself to this celebrated father. Add.

   9. The title of a senator of old Rome.

   From hence the race of Alban fathers come,
   And the long glories of majestick Rome. John Dryden, Virgil.

   10. The appellation of the first person of the adorable Trinity.

   The eternal son of God esteemed it his meat and drink to do the will of his Father, and for his obedience alone obtained the greatest glory. Jeremy Taylor, Rule of living holy.

   11. The compellation of God as Creator.

   We have one Father, even God. John viii. 41.

   Almighty and most merciful Father. Common Prayer.

2. To FATHERverb

   1. To take; to adopt as a son or daughter.

   Ay, good youth,
   And rather father thee than master thee. William Shakespeare, Cymbeline.

   2. To supply with a father.

   I am no stronger than my sex,
   Being so father’d and so husbanded. William Shakespeare, Julius Cæsar.

   How light and portable my pain seems now,
   When that which makes me bend makes the king bow;
   He childed as I father’d. William Shakespeare, King Lear.

   3. To adopt a composition.

   Men of wit,
   Often father’d what he writ Jonathan Swift.

   4. To ascribe to any one as his offspring, or production.

   And lest we seem to father any thing upon them more than is their own, let them read. Richard Hooker, b. iv. s. 4.

   My name was made use of by several persons, one of which was pleased to father on me a new set of productions. Jonathan Swift.

   Magical relations comprehend effects derived and fathered upon hidden qualities, whereof, from received grounds of art, no reasons are derived. Thomas Browne, Vulgar Errours, b. ii. c. 3.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Father

   Father and Son is a popular song written and performed by English singer-songwriter Cat Stevens (now known as Yusuf Islam) on his 1970 album Tea for the Tillerman. The song frames a heartbreaking exchange between a father not understanding a son's desire to break away and shape a new life, and the son who cannot really explain himself but knows that it is time for him to seek his own destiny. Stevens sings in a deeper register for the father's lines, while using a higher one for those of the son. Additionally, there are backing vocals provided by Stevens' guitarist and friend Alun Davies beginning mid-song, singing an unusual chorus of simple refrains.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. father

   A father is a male parent who either biologically or legally creates or raises a child. He typically provides physical and emotional support, guidance, and protection to their child or children. Fathers play an important role in a family's dynamics and are often seen as a source of love, discipline, and authority.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Fathernoun

   one who has begotten a child, whether son or daughter; a generator; a male parent

2. Fathernoun

   a male ancestor more remote than a parent; a progenitor; especially, a first ancestor; a founder of a race or family; -- in the plural, fathers, ancestors

3. Fathernoun

   one who performs the offices of a parent by maintenance, affetionate care, counsel, or protection

4. Fathernoun

   a respectful mode of address to an old man

5. Fathernoun

   a senator of ancient Rome

6. Fathernoun

   a dignitary of the church, a superior of a convent, a confessor (called also father confessor), or a priest; also, the eldest member of a profession, or of a legislative assembly, etc

7. Fathernoun

   one of the chief esslesiastical authorities of the first centuries after Christ; -- often spoken of collectively as the Fathers; as, the Latin, Greek, or apostolic Fathers

8. Fathernoun

   one who, or that which, gives origin; an originator; a producer, author, or contriver; the first to practice any art, profession, or occupation; a distinguished example or teacher

9. Fathernoun

   the Supreme Being and Creator; God; in theology, the first person in the Trinity

10. Fatherverb

    to make one's self the father of; to beget

11. Fatherverb

    to take as one's own child; to adopt; hence, to assume as one's own work; to acknowledge one's self author of or responsible for (a statement, policy, etc.)

12. Fatherverb

    to provide with a father

13. Etymology: [OE. fader, AS. fder; akin to OS. fadar, D. vader, OHG. fatar, G. vater, Icel. fair Sw. & Dan. fader, OIr. athir, L. pater, Gr. path`r, Skr. pitr, perh. fr. Skr. p protect. 75, 247. Cf. Papa, Paternal, Patriot, Potential, Pablum.]

WikidataRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Father

   A father is a male parent or Individual progenitor of human offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to a father and comparatively to "maternal" for a mother. The verb "to father" means to procreate or to sire a child from which also derives the gerund "fathering". Fathers determine the gender of their child through a sperm cell which either contains an X chromosome, or Y chromosome. Related terms of endearment are dad, daddy, pa, papa, pop and pops

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Father

   fä′thėr, n. a male parent: an ancestor or forefather: a fatherly protector: a contriver or originator: a title of respect applied to a venerable man, to confessors, monks, priests, &c.: a member of certain fraternities, as 'Fathers of the Oratory,' &c.: the oldest member of any profession or other body: one of a group of ecclesiastical writers of the early centuries, usually ending with Ambrose, Jerome, and Augustine: the first person of the Trinity.—v.t. to adopt: to ascribe to one as his offspring or production.—ns. Fa′therhood, state of being a father: fatherly authority; Fa′ther-in-law, the father of one's husband or wife; Fa′therland, the land of one's fathers—from the Ger. Vaterland; Fa′ther-lash′er, a name applied to two bull-heads found on the British coasts, belonging to the Gurnard family.—adj. Fa′therless, destitute of a living father: without a known author.—ns. Fa′therlessness; Fa′therliness.—adj. Fa′therly, like a father in affection and care: paternal.—n. Fa′thership.—Holy Father, the Pope.—Be gathered to one's fathers (B.), to die and be buried. [A.S. fæder; Ger. vater, L. pater, Gr. patēr.]

Dictionary of Nautical TermsRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. father

   The dockyard name given to the person who constructs a ship of the navy.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. father

   A male parent with a paternal instinct who chooses to act with unconditional love, unity, peace and is nonjudgmental and nurturing.

   Their father is a beautiful soul, expressing love and understanding for all human beings.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on March 8, 2020  

2. ---

   father

   The natural ability, qualities and acts of every father to give and share love, nurture, provide and contribute to development of their child or children in a nonjudgmental, fair and just way and to create a united family environment where their child or children have a positive, peaceful and loving relationship with their mother and all their family members

   Every father and mother has the role to unify the family where required.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on August 21, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • Christianity
   • Ancestor
   • Hypostasis
   • Leader
   • Originator
   • Parent
   • Priest
   • Theologian
   • Title

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'father' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #368

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'father' in Written Corpus Frequency: #604

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'father' in Nouns Frequency: #117

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Anagrams for father »

1. fareth

2. afther

3. hafter

4. freath

How to pronounce father?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say father in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of father in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of father in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of father in a Sentence

1. Domenico Bertini:

   These are people you used to play football with when you were 15 and maybe their father was your school teacher, you meet them in the town square every day, you meet them in church. You trust them. They tell you to buy the bank's shares, you do it.

2. Jack Swarbrick:

   What they insisted I understand was that they had built the best culture in college football, they also wanted me to know that they owned that culture. They built it. It was theirs. And their message, stated clearly and convincingly, was Father Jenkins, do n’t screw this up.

3. The Vatican:

   When the Holy Father, referring to the dissolution of a Congregation, spoke of' sexual slavery,' he meant' manipulation,' a form of abuse of power which is reflected also in sexual abuse.

4. Carlos Garcia:

   At least, since he [ my father ] passed, we get to be with our family, we don't have to go to an orphanage or anything. I'd rather be here than anywhere else right now.

5. Chelsea Clinton:

   How would your father do that given it’s not something he’s spoken about. There are no policies on any of those fronts on his website. Not last week. Not this week. The how question is super important, when you look at those issues that certainly affect our generation so strongly, I think my mom has stronger plans and a stronger record for actually delivering for women and families.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=father
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Father
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=father
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/father
7. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=father
8. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=father
9. ^ Dictionary of Nautical Terms
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/26000/pg26000-images.html#:~:text=father
10. ^ Usage in printed sources
    https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=father