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# forefather

noun (plural forefathers)

«forefather» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

A man from an earlier generation of your family; an ancestor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forefather/#m1)

### In the lessons

in stories the deeds of forefathers who lived long ago are remembered, and their pride or mistakes are passed on.

### Examples

- My forefathers came from Scotland. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forefather/#x1)
- Our forefathers built this village. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forefather/#x2)
- The king cursed the pride of his forefathers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forefather/#x3)

### Note

nothing for maths

## In Jewish tradition

In the Psalms the forefathers are the earlier generations of Israel, whose sins the people ask not to be punished for.

**Interpretation.** Tradition teaches that the merit of the forefathers helps their children, and also that each generation answers for its own deeds.

### Examples

- Remember not against us the iniquities of our forefathers; let Thy compassions speedily come to meet us; for we are brought very low. (Writings PSA.79.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/forefather/#x1)

### Note

nothing for maths

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «forefather» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forefather/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«forefather» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/forefather.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «forefather» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/forefather/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«forefather» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/forefather.html) on Mova free.