progenitor
UK/prə(ʊ)'dʒenɪtə/US/prәu'dʒenitә/
TOEFLGREC2
Definitions
n.
A direct ancestor from whom a line of descent comes
祖先，始祖
n.
The originator or earliest model of something
（事物的）创始者，先驱，原型
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedpro- (forth) + gen (beget, give birth) + -itor (agent) = 'one who begets/brings forth' — a founding ancestor. Extended to ideas and machines: the progenitor of modern jazz, a progenitor cell that gives rise to other cells.
Root gen still carries 140 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.common progenitor共同祖先
- 2.progenitor of……的创始者
- 3.progenitor cell祖细胞
Example Sentences
- 1.
He is regarded as the progenitor of modern abstract art.
- 2.
Stem cells act as progenitors of many tissue types.
- 3.
The clan traced its line to a single progenitor.