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Entry 12 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Father

/(fä"t͟hẽr)/ · Fa·ther · IPA /ˈfɑ.ðɚ/
01 n. One who has begotten a child, whether son or daughter; a generator; a male parent.
  1. 1.
    One who has begotten a child, whether son or daughter; a generator; a male parent.
    “A wise son maketh a glad father.” — Prov. x. 1.
  2. 2.
    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.
    “David slept with his fathers.” — 1 Kings ii. 10.
    “Abraham, who is the father of us all.” — Rom. iv. 16.
  3. 3.
    One who performs the offices of a parent by maintenance, affetionate care, counsel, or protection.
    “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. xiv. 8.
  4. 4.
    A respectful mode of address to an old man.
    “And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him [Elisha], . . . and said, O my father, my father!” — 2 Kings xiii. 14.
  5. 5.
    A senator of ancient Rome.
  6. 6.
    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. Also: father confessor
    “Bless you, good father friar !” — Shak.
  7. 7.
    One of the chief ecclesiastical authorities of the first centuries after Christ; -- often spoken of collectively as the Fathers; as, the Latin, Greek, or apostolic Fathers.
  8. 8.
    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.
    “The father of all such as handle the harp and organ.” — Gen. iv. 21.
    “Might be the father, Harry, to that thought.” — Shak.
    “The father of good news.” — Shak.
  9. 9.
    The Supreme Being and Creator; God; in theology, the first person in the Trinity.
    “Our Father, which art in heaven.” — Matt. vi. 9.
    “Now had the almighty Father from above . . . Bent down his eye.” — Milton.
Phrases & compounds
Adoptive father — one who adopts the child of another, treating it as his own.
Apostolic fathers — See under Apostolic, Conscript, etc.
Father in God — a title given to bishops.
Father of lies — the Devil.
Father of the bar — the oldest practitioner at the bar.
Fathers of the city — the aldermen.
Father of the Faithful — Abraham.
Father of the house — the member of a legislative body who has had the longest continuous service.
Most Reverend Father in God — a title given to archbishops and metropolitans, as to the archbishops of Canterbury and York.
Natural father — the father of an illegitimate child.
Putative father — one who is presumed to be the father of an illegitimate child; the supposed father.
Spiritual father — A religious teacher or guide, esp. one instrumental in leading a soul to God.
The Holy Father — the pope.
02 v. t. To make one's self the father of; to beget.
imp. & p. p. Fathered; p. pr. & vb. n. Fathering
  1. 1.
    To make one's self the father of; to beget.
    “Cowards father cowards, and base things sire base.” — Shak.
  2. 2.
    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.).
    “Men of wit Often fathered what he writ.” — Swift.
  3. 3.
    To provide with a father.[R.]
    “Think you I am no stronger than my sex, Being so fathered and so husbanded ?” — Shak.
Phrases & compounds
To father on — to ascribe to, or charge upon, as one's offspring or work; to put or lay upon as being responsible.