forefather

From Middle English forefader, forfader, vorvader, from Old English fōrefæder (“forefather”), but possibly also merged with Old Norse forfaðir. Equivalent to fore- +‎ father. Compare Dutch voorvader (“forefather”), German Vorvater, Vorvahr (“forefather”), Danish forfader (“forefather”), Swedish förfader (“forefather”).

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: fôʹfä'thə, IPA^(key): /ˈfɔːˌfɑːðə/
• (General American) enPR: fôrʹfä'thər, IPA^(key): /ˈfɔɹˌfɑːðɚ/

forefather (plural forefathers)

1. Ancestor.^Wp
   • 1907, Robert William Chambers, chapter II, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, OCLC 24962326:

     His forefathers had been, as a rule, professional men—physicians and lawyers; his grandfather died under the walls of Chapultepec Castle while twisting a tourniquet for a cursing dragoon; an uncle remained indefinitely at Malvern Hill; an only brother at Montauk Point having sickened in the trenches before Santiago.

2. Cultural ancestor; one who originated an idea or tradition.