forefatherfore‧fa‧ther /ˈfɔːˌfɑːðə $ ˈfɔːrˌfɑːðər/ noun [countable usually plural] 
What would our forefathers have thought?2someone in the past who did something important that influences your life today: Two hundred years ago our forefathers established this nation.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- None of David's forefathers died in World War I.
- Two hundred years ago our forefathers established a new nation.
- We seem to have less of a work ethic than did our forefathers.
- As Mr Torode points out, our liberal forefathers insisted on the importance of testing faiths by submitting them to discussion.
- Freud observed that people tend to puff up the status of their forefathers.
- He shudders still with the memory of the loss of his forefathers upon its scorching deserts and forbidding mountain-tops.
- In this sense farmers today are in danger of reaping the whirlwind sown by their forefathers.
- Our printing forefathers were notoriously careless about their pagination.
- She heard his cry, perhaps the battle cry of his northern forefathers when they prepared to attack.
- The national anthem continues to glorify the same native land of brave forefathers and heroic exploits.
Longman Language Activatorpeople who were in the same family as you a long time ago
a member of your family who lived a long time ago, especially hundreds of years ago: · My ancestors originally came from Ireland.· During the festival of Obon, Japanese show respect to their dead ancestors.
people that you are related to who lived a long time ago: · Her family came to America from Scotland in about 1750.· Our family has lived around here for hundreds of years.
someone who is a relative of a person who lived and died a long time ago, especially a famous or important person: · Frederick and Bertha moved to Iowa in 1852, and their descendants still live in the area.descendant of: · Paul claims to be a descendant of King Charles I.
people in your family who lived a long time ago: · His forefathers helped settle this area a century and a half ago.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY What would our forefathers have thought?
1the people, especially men, who were part of your family a long time ago in the past SYN ancestorsomebody’s forefathers What would our forefathers have thought? What would our forefathers have thought?2someone in the past who did something important that influences your life today: Two hundred years ago our forefathers established this nation.