■ noun
1》 a father or mother.
↘an animal or plant from which younger ones are derived.
2》 an organization or company which owns or controls a number of subsidiaries.
3》 archaic a forefather or ancestor.
■ verb [often as noun ~ing ] be or act as a ~ to.
Derivatives
~age noun
~al adjective
~ally adverb
~craft noun
~hood noun
Origin
ME: from OFr., from L. ~- , parere 'bring forth'.