An ancestor in the direct line

• Earliest ancestor

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. An initial ancestor.

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. an ancestor in the direct line [syn: progenitor ]

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"an ancestor," late 15c., from Medieval Latin primogenitor , from Latin primo (adv.) "first in order of time; at first," from primus "first" (see prime (adj.)) + genitor "father," from genitus , past participle of gignere "to beget" (see genus ). Related: ...

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Primogenitor \Pri`mo*gen"i*tor\, n. [LL., fr. L. primus first + genitor a begetter.] The first ancestor; a forefather.