GODFATHER


Meaning of GODFATHER in English

— godfatherly , adj.

/god"fah'dheuhr/ , n.

1. a man who serves as sponsor for a child at baptism.

2. any male sponsor or guardian.

3. ( often cap. ) a powerful leader, esp. of the Mafia.

4. a person who is regarded as the originator or principal shaper of a movement, school of thought, art form, industry, or the like: the godfather of abstract expressionism.

v.t.

5. to act as godfather to; be sponsor or protector for.

[ bef. 1000; ME godfader, OE godfaeder. See GOD, FATHER ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .