PROGENITOR

n. 1 progenitrix, ancestor, forefather, forebear They regarded the snake god as the progenitor of the human race 2 predecessor, forerunner, precursor, antecedent, foregoer, source, originator; origin, original, prototype, archetype, pattern, guide The ancient philosophers were progenitors of many modern ideas Some regard da Vinci's designs as the progenitors of some of today's machines.