father
UK: ˈfɑːðə | US: ˈfɑːðər
n. a male parent
n. (often capitalized) a title for a priest or God
v. (archaic) to beget or act as a father
The word "father" traces back to Old English fæder, derived from Proto-Germanic fadēr, which in turn comes from Proto-Indo-European ph₂tḗr (a root shared by Latin pater and Greek patḗr). The core meaning of "male parent" has remained consistent across millennia, reflecting its deep-rooted role in kinship terminology. The -er suffix here is not a separable morpheme in modern English but part of the inherited Germanic noun structure.
His father taught him how to ride a bike.
Father John led the Sunday service.
In the Bible, God is often referred to as "Our Father."
(Archaic) "He fathered three children before the war."
The ceremony honored the founding fathers of the nation.