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# progenitor

noun (a progenitor, progenitors) — formal

«progenitor» 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

1. (formal) A person or animal from whom others are descended, an ancestor: «the progenitor of the family». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/progenitor/#m1)
2. (formal) A person or thing that starts a movement, idea or style; a founder or first model: «the progenitor of rock music». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/progenitor/#m2)
3. (science) A cell or living thing that later things develop from. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/progenitor/#m3)

### In the lessons

In history and family-tree work it names the first ancestor; in science (evolution, cells) it names the starting form. In stories it gives a grand, old-fashioned feel. Phrases: «the progenitor of», «a common progenitor».

### Examples

- He was the progenitor of a long line of farmers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/progenitor/#x1)
- The wolf is the progenitor of all pet dogs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/progenitor/#x2)
- Some call that band the progenitor of punk music. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/progenitor/#x3)
- Scientists study progenitor cells that grow into blood cells. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/progenitor/#x4)
- Adam is called the progenitor of humankind in the Bible. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/progenitor/#x5)
- The Wright brothers' plane was the progenitor of every modern aircraft. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/progenitor/#x6)

### Note

Countable: progenitor, progenitors. Formal; simpler: «ancestor», «forefather», «founder». The «progeny» are the children or descendants, the opposite end of the family tree.

## In Jewish tradition

In history and family-tree work it names the first ancestor; in science (evolution, cells) it names the starting form. In stories it gives a grand, old-fashioned feel. Phrases: «the progenitor of», «a common progenitor».

### Examples

- Many offspring or derivations came from the latter three, as their progenitors, as it is explained afterwards in the chapter. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/progenitor/#x1)

### Note

Countable: progenitor, progenitors. Formal; simpler: «ancestor», «forefather», «founder». The «progeny» are the children or descendants, the opposite end of the family tree.

## On Mova

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