6. A dignitary of the church, a superior of a convent, a confessor
(called also father confessor), or a priest; also, the eldest member of
a profession, or of a legislative assembly, etc.
Bless you, good father friar !
Shak.
7. One of the chief ecclesiastical authorities of the first centuries
after Christ; -- often spoken of collectively as the Fathers; as, the
Latin, Greek, or apostolic Fathers.
8. One who, or that which, gives origin; an originator; a producer,
author, or contriver; the first to practice any art, profession, or
occupation; a distinguished example or teacher.
The father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
Gen. iv. 21.
Might be the father, Harry, to that thought.
Shak.
The father of good news.
Shak.
9. The Supreme Being and Creator; God; in theology, the first person in
the Trinity.
Our Father, which art in heaven.
Matt. vi. 9.
Now had the almighty Father from above . . . Bent down his eye.
Milton.
Adoptive father, one who adopts the child of another, treating it as
his own. -- Apostolic father, Conscript fathers, etc. See under
Apostolic, Conscript, etc. -- Father in God, a title given to bishops.
-- Father of lies, the Devil. -- Father of the bar, the oldest
practitioner at the bar. -- Fathers of the city, the aldermen. --
Father of the Faithful. (a) Abraham. Rom. iv. Gal. iii. 6- 9. (b)
Mohammed, or one of the sultans, his successors. -- Father of the
house, the member of a legislative body who has had the longest
continuous service. -- Most Reverend Father in God, a title given to
archbishops and metropolitans, as to the archbishops of Canterbury and
York. -- Natural father, the father of an illegitimate child. --
Putative father, one who is presumed to be the father of an
illegitimate child; the supposed father. -- Spiritual father. (a) A
religious teacher or guide, esp. one instrumental in leading a soul to
God. (b) (R. C. Ch.) A priest who hears confession in the sacrament of
penance. -- The Holy Father (R. C. Ch.), the pope.
Fa"ther (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fathered (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Fathering.] 1. To make one's self the father of; to beget.
Cowards father cowards, and base things sire base.
Shak.
2. To take as one's own child; to adopt; hence, to assume as one's own
work; to acknowledge one's self author of or responsible for (a
statement, policy, etc.).
Men of wit Often fathered what he writ.
Swift.