father

fa·ther

F0050000 (fä′thər)n.1. a. A male whose sperm unites with an egg, producing an embryo.b. A male whose impregnation of a female results in the birth of a child.c. A man who adopts a child.d. A man who raises a child.2. A male parent of an animal.3. A male ancestor: He has died and now sleeps with his fathers.4. a. A man who creates, originates, or founds something: Chaucer is considered the father of English poetry.b. A man who serves or is thought of as a protector: beloved as the father of the nation.5. Father Christianity a. God.b. The first person of the Christian Trinity.6. a. An elderly or venerable man. Used as a title of respect.b. One of the leading men, as of a city: the town fathers.c. or Father A church father.d. A member of the senate in ancient Rome.7. Abbr. Fr.a. A priest or clergyman in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches.b. Used as a title and form of address with or without the clergyman's name.v. fa·thered, fa·ther·ing, fa·thers v.tr.1. a. To provide the sperm that unites with an egg to produce (an embryo, fetus, or child).b. To act or serve as a father to (a child).2. To create, found, or originate: father a political movement.3. To attribute the paternity, creation, or origin of: "[Swift's] ideas about the education of the young are fathered on to the Lilliputians" (George Orwell).v.intr. To act or serve as a father.

[Middle English fader, from Old English fæder; see pəter- in Indo-European roots.]

father

(ˈfɑːðə) n1. a male parent2. a person who founds a line or family; forefather3. any male acting in a paternal capacity. 4. (often capital) a respectful term of address for an old man5. a male who originates something: the father of modern psychology. 6. a leader of an association, council, etc; elder: a city father. 7. Brit the eldest or most senior member in a society, profession, etc: father of the bar. 8. (Historical Terms) (often plural) a senator or patrician in ancient Rome9. the father of informal a very large, severe, etc, example of a specified kind: the father of a whipping. vb (tr) 10. to procreate or generate (offspring); beget11. to create, found, originate, etc12. to act as a father to13. to acknowledge oneself as father or originator of14. (foll by: on or upon) to impose or place without a just reason[Old English fæder; related to Old Norse fathir, Old Frisian feder, Old High German fater, Latin pater, Greek patēr, Sanskrit pitr] ˈfathering n

Father

(ˈfɑːðə) n1. (Theology) God, esp when considered as the first person of the Christian Trinity2. (Theology) Also called: Church Father any of the writers on Christian doctrine of the pre-Scholastic period3. (Roman Catholic Church) a title used for Christian priests

fa•ther

(ˈfɑ ðər)

n. 1. the begetter of offspring; male parent. 2. (often cap.) one's own father. 3. a father-in-law, stepfather, adoptive father, or foster father. 4. any male ancestor; forefather; progenitor. 5. a man who gives paternal care to others; protector or provider. 6. a person who has originated or established something. 7. a precursor, prototype, or early form. 8. one of the leading men in a city, town, etc. 9. a priest or a title for a priest. 10. (cap.) God, esp. the first person of the Trinity. 11. a title of respect for an elderly man. 12. any of the chief early Christian writers. v.t. 13. to beget. 14. to be the creator, founder, or author of; originate. 15. to act as a father toward. 16. to take the responsibility for. 17. to establish the paternity or source of. v.i. 18. to perform the tasks or duties of a male parent; act paternally. [before 900; Middle English fader, Old English fæder; c. Old Saxon fadar, Old High German fater, Old Norse fathir, Latin pater, GK patḗr, Skt pitar] fa′ther•less, adj. fa′ther•like`, adj.

Father

See also mother; parents
misopaterismthe hatred of one’s father. — misopaterist, n.patriarchy1. a community in which the father or oldest male is the supreme authority in the family, clan, or tribe, and descent is traced through the male line.
2. government by males, with one as supreme. — patriarchist, n. — patri-archic, patriarchical, adj.patricentrictending to move toward or centering upon the father. See also matricentric.

father

Past participle: fathered
Gerund: fathering

Imperative
father
father

Present
I father
you father
he/she/it fathers
we father
you father
they father

Preterite
I fathered
you fathered
he/she/it fathered
we fathered
you fathered
they fathered

Present Continuous
I am fathering
you are fathering
he/she/it is fathering
we are fathering
you are fathering
they are fathering

Present Perfect
I have fathered
you have fathered
he/she/it has fathered
we have fathered
you have fathered
they have fathered

Past Continuous
I was fathering
you were fathering
he/she/it was fathering
we were fathering
you were fathering
they were fathering

Past Perfect
I had fathered
you had fathered
he/she/it had fathered
we had fathered
you had fathered
they had fathered

Future
I will father
you will father
he/she/it will father
we will father
you will father
they will father

Future Perfect
I will have fathered
you will have fathered
he/she/it will have fathered
we will have fathered
you will have fathered
they will have fathered

Future Continuous
I will be fathering
you will be fathering
he/she/it will be fathering
we will be fathering
you will be fathering
they will be fathering

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been fathering
you have been fathering
he/she/it has been fathering
we have been fathering
you have been fathering
they have been fathering

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been fathering
you will have been fathering
he/she/it will have been fathering
we will have been fathering
you will have been fathering
they will have been fathering

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been fathering
you had been fathering
he/she/it had been fathering
we had been fathering
you had been fathering
they had been fathering

Conditional
I would father
you would father
he/she/it would father
we would father
you would father
they would father

Past Conditional
I would have fathered
you would have fathered
he/she/it would have fathered
we would have fathered
you would have fathered
they would have fathered

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	father - a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father); "his father was born in Atlanta"begetter, male parentdad, dada, daddy, pa, papa, pappa, pop - an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talkfather-in-law - the father of your spouseold man - an informal term for your fatherparent - a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardianpater - an informal use of the Latin word for father; sometimes used by British schoolboys or used facetiouslyfemale parent, mother - a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother); "the mother of three children"
	2.	father - the founder of a family; "keep the faith of our forefathers"forefather, sireancestor, antecedent, ascendant, ascendent, root - someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)patriarch - any of the early biblical characters regarded as fathers of the human race
	3.	Father - `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 militaryPadreform of address, title of respect, title - an identifying appellation signifying status or function: e.g. `Mr.' or `General'; "the professor didn't like his friends to use his formal title"priest - a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
	4.	Father - (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 ChrysostomChurch Father, Father of the ChurchChristian religion, Christianity - a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as saviortheologian, theologiser, theologist, theologizer - someone who is learned in theology or who speculates about theology
	5.	father - 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"leader - a person who rules or guides or inspires others
	6.	Father - God when considered as the first person in the Trinity; "hear our prayers, Heavenly Father"Father-God, Fatherhood
	7.	father - a person who founds or establishes some institution; "George Washington is the father of his country"beginner, founder, founding fathercofounder - one of a group of founderscoloniser, colonizer - someone who helps to found a colonyfoundress - a woman founderconceiver, mastermind, originator - someone who creates new things
	8.	father - the head of an organized crime familydonchief, top dog, head - a person who is in charge; "the head of the whole operation"
Verb	1.	father - make children; "Abraham begot Isaac"; "Men often father children but don't recognize them"beget, sire, mother, engender, generate, bring forth, getcreate, make - make or cause to be or to become; "make a mess in one's office"; "create a furor"

father

noun1. daddy (informal), dad (informal), male parent, patriarch, pop (U.S. informal), governor (informal), old man (Brit. informal), pa (informal), old boy (informal), papa (old-fashioned informal), sire, pater, biological father, foster father, begetter, paterfamilias, birth father He was a good father to my children.2. founder, author, maker, architect, creator, inventor, originator, prime mover, initiator He was the father of modern photography.3. (usually cap.) priest, minister, vicar, parson, pastor, cleric, churchman, padre (informal), confessor, abbé, curé, man of God The prior, Father Alessandro, came over to talk to them.4. (usually cap.) God, Lord, Creator, Almighty God, living God, Holy One, eternal God Our Father in Heaven.5. (usually plural) forefather, predecessor, ancestor, forebear, progenitor land of my fathers6. (usually plural) leader (usually found in phrase `city fathers') senator, elder, patron, patriarch, guiding light, city father City fathers tried to revive the town's economy.verb1. sire, parent, conceive, bring to life, beget, procreate, bring into being, give life to, get He fathered at least three children.2. originate, found, create, establish, author, institute, invent, engender He fathered the modern computer.Related words
adjective paternalQuotations
"Honour thy father and thy mother" Bible: Exodus
"'Tis happy for him, that his father was before him" [Jonathan Swift Polite Conversation]
"No man is responsible for his father. That is entirely his mother's affair" [Margaret Turnbull Alabaster Lamps]
"No man can know who was his father" [Homer Odyssey]
"It's all any reasonable child can expect if the dad is present at the conception" [Joe Orton Entertaining Mr. Sloane]
"It is a wise father that knows his own child" [William Shakespeare The Merchant of Venice]Proverbs
"Like father like son"

father

noun1. A male parent:sire.Informal: dad, daddy, pa, papa, pappy, pop.Slang: old man.2. A person from whom one is descended:ancestor, antecedent, ascendant, forebear, forefather, foremother, mother, parent, progenitor.Archaic: predecessor.3. One that creates, founds, or originates:architect, author, creator, entrepreneur, founder, inventor, maker, originator, parent, patriarch.4. A first form from which varieties arise or imitations are made:archetype, master, original, protoplast, prototype.verb1. To be the biological father of:beget, breed, get, procreate, sire.2. To cause to come into existence:beget, breed, create, engender, hatch, make, originate, parent, procreate, produce, sire, spawn.Idiom: give birth to.

Translations

父亲神父创始者奠基人当...的父亲

father

(ˈfaːðə) noun1. a male parent, especially human. Mr Smith is her father.父亲2. (with capital) the title of a (usually Roman Catholic) priest. I met Father Sullivan this morning.神父3. a person who begins, invents or first makes something. King Alfred was the father of the English navy. 奠基人，创始者（….之父） verb to be the father of. King Charles II fathered a number of children.当...的父亲ˈfatherhood noun the state or condition of being a father. Now that the children are older I am enjoying fatherhood.父亲的身份ˈfatherly adjective like a father. He showed a fatherly interest in his friend's child.父亲般的ˈfather-in-law noun the father of one's wife or husband. 岳父，公公

father

→ 父亲zhCN

father

not your father's

Very modern or updated; no longer what an older generation would expect or be used to. With every building now featuring wireless Internet and touch-screen monitors integrated into the desks in each classroom, this is certainly not your father's high school anymore.See also: not

be gathered to (one's) fathers

euphemism To die. It's such a shame that Tom has been gathered to his fathers. When is his funeral?See also: father, gather

a bit of how's your father

A playful euphemism for sexual activity. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. Jeremy snuck under the bleachers with his girlfriend to have a bit of how's your father but ended up getting caught by the school's principal.See also: bit, father, of

success has many fathers, failure is an orphan

People are quick to associate themselves with successful ventures and distance themselves from failures. A: "All the people who were so excited about this project in the beginning now act like they've never even heard of it." B: "Well, success has many fathers, failure is an orphan."See also: failure, many, success

twinkle in (one's) father's eye

A phrase used to describe the time before one's birth. I never knew my grandparents; they died when I was just a twinkle in my father's eye.See also: eye, twinkle

the child is father of the man

The personality traits that one displays as an adult form in childhood. He's always been a quiet, analytical person—the child is father of the man, after all.See also: child, father, man, of

experience is the father of wisdom

Most wisdom is gained by experiencing different things (compared to acquiring knowledge through schooling or other means). A few years ago, I couldn't even get behind the wheel without having panic attacks, but, with practice, I'm much calmer and can drive with no problems. Experience is the father of wisdom after all.See also: experience, father, of, wisdom

when (one) was a twinkle in (one's) father's eye

Before one was born. I never knew my grandparents—they died when I was a twinkle in my father's eye.See also: eye, twinkle

founding father

Someone who was instrumental in the beginning or creation of something. Capitalized when used to refer to a member of the US Constitutional Convention. As the founding fathers of this club, we really want to see it thrive after we graduate. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were among the nation's Founding Fathers.See also: father, found

a spot of how's your father

euphemism Sexual intercourse or activity. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. Jeremy snuck under the bleachers with his girlfriend to have a spot of how's your father, but ended up getting caught by the headmaster.See also: father, of, spot

how's your father

euphemism Sexual intercourse or activity. Usually preceded by "a bit of" or "a spot of." Jeremy snuck under the bleachers with his girlfriend to have a spot of how's your father, but ended up getting caught by the headmaster. It's well known that having kids is going to drastically reduce the how's your father in your relationship, but it's something many couples still struggle with.See also: father

like father, like son

Said when a son shows similarities to his father in mannerisms, interests, behavior, etc. Tommy's headstrong and impatient—like father, like son. A: "My only interest is in making money." B: "Like father, like son, I see."See also: like, son

old enough to be (one's) father

Of a man, much older than one, especially 20 or more years older (or around the age of one's actual father). Used especially when referring to a man who is or might be in a romantic or sexual relationship with a younger person (especially to indicate that the speaker thinks such a pairing would be inappropriate). How could you find him attractive—he's old enough to be your father! Everyone raised their eyebrows when they met Mark's new husband, as he's old enough to be Mark's father. But they do seem very happy together.See also: enough, father, old

founding father (of something)

A man who was instrumental in the creation or pioneering of something. Many consider Alexander Fleming to be the founding father of modern antibiotics. The day is a celebration of the founding fathers of the small country.See also: father, found

the mother and father of all (something)

The largest, most extreme, or ultimate example of a particular kind of thing. The word that follows "of" is usually plural. Wow, that is the mother and father of all sandwiches. It's a foot high!See also: all, and, father, mother, of

the wish is father to the thought

People are more inclined to believe that which they wish or hope to be true. She's convinced that all of the company was getting ready to promote her, but to my it looks like the wish is the father to the thought. My father always said that people only believed in religion because of the desire to spend eternity in heaven, and the wish is father to the thought.See also: father, thought, wish

step-father

A male caregiver of a child who assumed the parental role through marriage to one of the child's original (usually biological) parents. Most commonly, a step-father is the second husband of a child's biological mother. I live with my dad during the week and then visit my mom and step-father every other weekend.

it is a wise child that knows its own father

It is difficult to truly know who one's father is, especially in the case of a child born to unwed parents. A: "Ben was actually raised by his stepfather and didn't know it until years later." B: "Wow, I guess it's true what they say—it is a wise child that knows its own father."See also: child, father, know, own, that, wise

child is father of the man

and child is father to the manProv. People's personalities form when they are children; A person will have the same qualities as an adult that he or she had as a child. (From William Wordsworth's poem, "My Heart Leaps Up.") In Bill's case, the child was father of the man; he never lost his childhood delight in observing nature.See also: child, father, man, of

Experience is the father of wisdom,

and Experience is the mother of wisdom.Prov. The more that happens to you, the more you will learn. I never understood why supervisors got so frustrated with me until I became a supervisor and got frustrated with my subordinates. Experience was definitely the mother of wisdom, in my case.See also: experience, father, of, wisdom

father something on someone

Fig. to regard someone as the author or originator of something. Do not attempt to father that stupid idea on me! We fathered the whole plan on the president. And we learned later she had nothing to do with it.See also: father, on

It is a wise child that knows its own father.

Prov. You can never have certain proof that a certain man is your father. (Implies that the child in question might be illegitimate.) It is a wise child that knows its own father, but Emily is so much like her dad that there's very little uncertainty.See also: child, father, know, own, that, wise

like father, like son

Prov. Fathers and sons resemble each other, and sons tend to do what their fathers did before them. Jill: George's father smoked all the time, and now George is smoking excessively, too. Jane: Like father, like son, eh? I think my son will grow up tall, just like his father. Like father, like son.See also: like, son

old enough to be someone's mother

and old enough to be someone's fatheras old as someone's parents. (Usually a way of saying that a person is too old.) You can't go out with Bill. He's old enough to be your father! He married a woman who is old enough to be his mother.See also: enough, mother, old

The wish is father to the thought.

Prov. People sometimes come to believe something that they wish were true. Jane hoped that her boss would resign, and the wish was father to the thought. Soon she had told everyone in the office that she was sure her boss was leaving.See also: father, thought, wish

like father, like son

In the same manner from generation to generation, as in Kevin decided to run for mayor-like father, like son. This ancient proverb has been stated in English in slightly varying versions since the 1300s, sometimes appearing with a counterpart, like mother, like daughter. Thomas Draxe had it in Bibliotheca (1616): "Like father, like son; like mother, like daughter." Also see chip off the old block; follow in someone's footsteps. See also: like, son

how's your father

sexual intercourse. British informal A pre-World War I music-hall catchphrase, how's your father was earlier used to mean ‘nonsense’ before acquiring its present sexual sense. It is now used also to refer to a man's penis.See also: father

like father, like son

a son's character or behaviour can be expected to resemble that of his father. The Latin version of this expression is qualis pater, talis filius . The female equivalent, like mother, like daughter , is based on Ezekiel 16:44: ‘Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is the daughter’.See also: like, son

founding father

someone who establishes an institution. Founding Father is used in particular of an American statesman at the time of the Revolution, especially a member of the Federal Constitutional Convention of 1787 .See also: father, found

like —, like —

as — is, so is —. Two familiar sayings which appear in this form are like father, like son , recorded in this form from the early 17th century onwards, and like mother, like daughter . 1982 Anita Desai A Village by the Sea Did he teach you to tell me that—that rogue, your father? Like father, like daughter. A family full of liars, no-goods. See also: father, like, son

old enough to be someone's father (or mother)

of a much greater age than someone. informal 1997 Nelson DeMille Plum Island He was probably old enough to be their father, but girls paid attention to money, pure and simple. See also: enough, father, old

the wish is father to the thought

we believe a thing because we wish it to be true. This expression is used by Shakespeare in 2 Henry IV: ‘Thy wish was father, Harry, to that thought’. However, observations on this kind of self-delusion are found in much earlier writings, including those of Julius Caesar and Demosthenes. 1980 Alice Thomas Ellis The Birds of the Air Somewhere in that area of the human mind where the wish is father to the thought activity was taking place. Hunter, Barbara decided, had wangled this invitation in order to be with her. See also: father, thought, wish

like ˌfather/ˌmother, like ˈson/ˈdaughter

(saying) a child is similar to its father/mother in a particular way: Young Jim is turning out to be as hard-working as his dad — like father, like son.See also: daughter, father, like, son

the ˌfounding ˈfather(s) of something

(formal) the people who found or start a country, an organization, a branch of science, etc: Charles Babbage, the founding father of computer scienceSee also: father, found, of, something

the wish is father to the ˈthought

(saying) we believe a thing because we want it to be trueThis phrase was used in Shakespeare’s play Henry IV.See also: father, thought, wish

father

fa·ther

father

Father

fa•ther

Father

father

father

father

father

father

father

not your father's

be gathered to (one's) fathers

a bit of how's your father

success has many fathers, failure is an orphan

twinkle in (one's) father's eye

the child is father of the man

experience is the father of wisdom

when (one) was a twinkle in (one's) father's eye

founding father

a spot of how's your father

how's your father

like father, like son

old enough to be (one's) father

founding father (of something)

the mother and father of all (something)

the wish is father to the thought

step-father

it is a wise child that knows its own father

child is father of the man

Experience is the father of wisdom,

father something on someone

It is a wise child that knows its own father.

like father, like son

old enough to be someone's mother

The wish is father to the thought.

like father, like son

how's your father

like father, like son

founding father

like —, like —

old enough to be someone's father (or mother)

the wish is father to the thought

like ˌfather/ˌmother, like ˈson/ˈdaughter

the ˌfounding ˈfather(s) of something

the wish is father to the ˈthought

father

father

Father

What does it mean when you dream about your father?

Father

father

father

father

Patient discussion about father

father

Synonyms for father

noun daddy

Synonyms

noun founder

Synonyms

noun priest

Synonyms

noun God

Synonyms

noun forefather

Synonyms

noun leader

Synonyms

verb sire

Synonyms

verb originate

Synonyms

Synonyms for father

noun a male parent

Synonyms

noun a person from whom one is descended

Synonyms

noun one that creates, founds, or originates