F'ATHER, n. [L. pater. The primary sense is obvious.]

1. He who begets a child; in L. genitor or generator. The father of a fool hath no joy. Prov. xvii. A wise son maketh a glad father. Prov. x.
2. The first ancestor; the progenitor of a race or family. Adam was the father of the human race. Abraham was the father of the Israelites.
3. The appellation of an old man, and a term of respect. The king of Israel said to Elisha, my father, shall I smite them? 2 Kings vi. The servants of Naaman call him father. Ibm. v. Elderly men are called fathers; as, the fathers of a town or city. In the church, men venerable for age, learning and piety are called fathers, or reverend fathers.
4. The grandfather, or more remote ancestor. Nebuchadnezzar is called the father of Belshazzar, though he was his grandfather. Dan. v.
5. One who feeds and supports, or exercises paternal care over another. God is called the father of the fatherless. Ps. lxviii. I was a father to the poor. Job xxix.
6. He who creates, invents, makes or composes any thing; the author, former or contriver; a founder, director or instructor. God as creator is the father of all men. John viii. Jabal was the father of such as dwell in tents; and Jubal of musicians. Gen. iv. God is the father of spirits and of lights. Homer is considered as the father of epic poetry. Washington, as a defender and an affectionate and wise counselor, is called the father of his country. And see1 Chron. ii, 51; iv, 14; ix, 35. Satan is called the father of lies; he introduced sin, and instigates men to sin. Jo hn viii. Abraham is called the father of believers; he was an early believer, and a pattern of faith and obedience. Rom. iv.
7. Fathers, in the plural, ancestors. David slept with his fathers. 1 King ii.
8. A father in law. So Heli is called the father of Joseph. Luke iii.
9. The appellation of the first person in the adorable Trinity. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Matth. xxviii.
10. The title given to dignitaries of the church, superiors of convents, and to popish confessors.
11. The appellation of the ecclesiastical writers of the first centuries, as Polycarp, Jerome, &c.
12. The title of a senator in ancient Rome; as, conscript fathers. Adoptive father, he who adopts the children of another, and acknowledges them as his own. Natural father, the father of illegitimate children. Putative father, one who is only reputed to be the father; the supposed father.

1. To adopt; to take the child of another as one's own.
2. To adopt any thing as one's own; to profess to be the author. Men of wit / Often father'd what he writ. Swift.
3. To ascribe or charge to one as his offspring or production; with on. My name was made use of by several persons, one of whom was pleased to father on me a new set of productions. Swift.

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. To make one's self the father of] to beget.
   
   

   Cowards father cowards, and base things sire base. Shak.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. To provide with a father.
   
   
   [R.]

   Think you I am no stronger than my sex,
   Being so fathered and so husbanded ? Shak.

   To father on or upon, to ascribe to, or charge upon, as one's offspring or work; to put or lay upon as being responsible. "Nothing can be so uncouth or extravagant, which may not be fathered on some fetch of wit, or some caprice of humor." Barrow.

7. 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.

8. A senator of ancient Rome.
9. 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.
   
   

   Bless you, good father friar ! Shak.

10. 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.
11. 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.

12. 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.

    Adoptive father, one who adopts the child of another, treating it as his own. -- Apostolic father, Conscript fathers, etc. 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. (a) Abraham. Rom. iv. Gal. iii. 6- 9. (b) Mohammed, or one of the sultans, his successors. -- 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) A religious teacher or guide, esp. one instrumental in leading a soul to God. (b) (R. C. Ch.) A priest who hears confession in the sacrament of penance. -- The Holy Father (R. C. Ch.), the pope.