progenitor

Etymology

From Middle English, from Middle French progeniteur (Modern French progéniteur), from Latin progenitor, from progenitus, perfect participle of progignere (“to beget”), itself from pro- (“forth”) + gignere (“to beget”).

noun

1. A forefather, any of a person's direct ancestors.
2. An individual from whom one or more people (dynasty, tribe, nation...) are descended.
   Abraham alias Ibrahim is the presumed progenitor of both the Jewish and Arab peoples.
3. (biology) An ancestral form of a species.
4. (figurative) A predecessor of something, especially if also a precursor or model.
   ARPANET was the progenitor of the Internet.
   Are neural progenitor cells infected by Zika virus?
5. (figurative) Someone who originates something.
6. A founder.