- (n.) A respectful mode of address to an old man.
- (n.) 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.
- (n.) 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.
- (v.t.) To make one's self the father of; to beget.
- (v.t.) 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.).
- (n.) One who has begotten a child, whether son or daughter; a generator; a male parent.
- (n.) One who performs the offices of a parent by maintenance, affetionate care, counsel or protection.
- (v.t.) To provide with a father.
- (n.) A senator of ancient Rome.
- (n.) 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.
- (n.) 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.
- (n.) The Supreme Being and Creator; God; in theology, the first person in the Trinity.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
| APA | Webster's. (2011). father. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/father/definitions/2007133 |
| Chicago | Webster's. 2011. "father" http://smartdefine.org/father/definitions/2007133 (accessed September 20, 2026). |
| Harvard | Webster's 2011, father, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/father/definitions/2007133>. |
| MLA | Webster's. "father" 27 May 2011. Web. 20 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/father/definitions/2007133> |