father 
Come you to make confession to this father ? 
Xhak., R. anclj., Iv. 1. 
IViianrc, ./><'/"'/,<, will I none; 
Prayer know I liartlly one. 
Scott, L. of L. M., ii. 6. 
9. A member of one of various Roman Catho- 
lic fraternities: as, Fathers of the Oratory, etc. 
10. The title of a senator in ancient Rome. 
See conscript fathers, under conscript. 
I wis, in all the senate 
There was no heart so bold 
But sore it ached, and fast it beat, 
When that ill news was told. 
Forthwith up rose the consul, 
Up rose the fathers nil. 
Macaulay, Horatiua. 
11. The eldest member of any profession, or 
of any body: as, father of the bar (the oldest 
practitioner of law); father of the House of 
Representatives or of the House of Commons 
(the man who has been a member of the body 
for the longest continuous period). 
" You and me," said the turnkey, " is the oldest inhabi- 
tants. . . . When I'm off the lock for good and all, you'll 
be the Father of the Marshalsea." 
Dickens, Little Don-it, vi. 
Being at that time the oldest person who had a seat in 
St. Stephen's, though not the father of the House in par- 
liamentary standing. Times (London), Feb. 2, 1876. 
12. In universities, originally, a regent master 
fulfilling certain functions toward an inceptor; 
now, a fellow of a college appointed to attend 
a university examination in the interest of the 
students of that college. 13 . One who creates, 
invents, originates, or establishes anything; the 
author, former, or contriver ; a founder, direc- 
tor, or instructor ; the first to practise any art ; 
specifically, in the plural, the authors, found- 
ers, or first promoters of any great work, move- 
ment, or organization: as, Gutenberg was the 
father of printing; the fathers of the church 
(which see, below); the pilgrim fathers (see 
pilgrim) ; the fathers of the American Constitu- 
tion. 
He [Jabal] was the father of such as dwell in tents, and 
. . . have cattle. And his brother's name was Jubal : he 
was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. 
Gen. iv. 20, 21. 
Of Fathers, by custom so call'd, they quote Ambrose, 
Augustin, and some other ceremonial Doctors of the same 
Leven. Milton, Touching Hirelings. 
But he would soon see ... that the opinion of Wash- 
ington, of Hamilton, and generally of the Fathers, as one 
sometimes hears them called in America, threw light on 
the meaning of various constitutional articles. 
A. V. Dicey, Law of Const., p. 16. 
14. In general, any real or apparent generat- 
ing cause or source ; that which gives rise to 
anything; a mainspring or moving element in 
a system or a process : as, " the boy is father of 
the man." 
When he [the devil] speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his 
own ; for he is a liar, and the father of it. John viii. 44. 
Thy wish was father, Harry, to that thought. 
Shall., 2 Hen. IV., iv. 4. 
Adoptive father, one who adopts the child of another and 
treats him as hisown. Aquavlta fathers. SeeJemiate. 
City fathers, the common council; corporation; board 
of aldermen. [Generally jocose.] Conscript fathers. 
See conscript. Dollar of the fathers. See dollar. Fa- 
ther confessor. Same as confesmr, 3. Father in God, 
a title of bishops of the Anglican Church. 
A priest shall present unto the Bishop ... all those 
who are to receive the Order of Priesthood that day, . . . 
and shall say, Reverend Father -in God, I present unto 
you these persons present, to be admitted to the order of 
Priesthood. Hook of Common Prayer, Ordering of Priests. 
Fathers of Mercy. See mercy. Fathers of the 
Church, a name given to the early teachers and expound- 
ers of Christianity, who, next to the apostles, were the 
founders, leaders, and defenders of the Christian church, 
and whose writings, so far as they are extant, are the main 
sources for the history, doctrines, and observances of the 
church in the early ages. Those of them who were during 
any part of their lives contemporary with the apostles are 
called apostolic fathers. These are six ; Barnabas (lived 
about A. i>. 70-100), Clement of Rome (died about 100), Her- 
nias (lived probably about the beginning of the second cen- 
tury), Ignatius (died probably 107), Pnpiiu (lived probably 
about 130), and Polycarp (died 155). Those who wrote in 
defense of Christianity against the objections of Jews and 
pagans are called ajmloaetic fathers. These, and all before 
the Council of Nice, in 325, are called ante-Xicene or primi- 
tive fathers, and include, besides the apostolic fathers, Jus- 
tin Martyr (died about IK- 66), Theophilus of Antioch 
(died about 183), Ireuajus of Lyons (died probably about 
200), Clement of Alexandria (lived about 200), Tertullian 
of Carthage (born about 150, died about 220-40), Origen 
of Alexandria (born about 185, died about 253), Cyprian of 
Carthage (died 258). Dionysius of Alexandria (born about 
190, died 265), and Gregory Thaumaturgus (died about 270). 
The post-Nicene fathers, or those after the Council of Nice, 
are : (1) in the Greek Church, Eusebius of Ca:sarea (born 
about 260, died probably 340). Athanasius (born about 296, 
died 373), Basil the Great of Cfesarea (born about 329, died 
379), Ephrem Syrus or Ephraim the Syrian (died about 
379), Cyril of Jerusalem (died 386), Gregory Nazianzen 
(born about 325-30, died about 390), Gregory of Nyssa 
(born about 335, died about 395), Epiphanius of Salamis 
2154 
in Cyprus (died 403), Chrysostom of Constantinople (born 
347, died 407), and Cyril of Alexandria (died 444) ; (2) in 
the Latin Church, Lactantius(died about 325-30), Hilary 
of Poitiers (died 368), Ambrose of Milan (born about 340, 
.li< ,1 ;i:i7). .Ifi-onii', the translator of the Bible (born about 
340-46, died about 419), and Augustine of Hippo (born 
S54, .ii. ,1 4:111). In some reckonings the list of Latin fa- 
thers is continued to the twelfth century, and St. Bernard 
of France (born 1091, died 1153) is often called the last of 
the fathers.- Holy Father, specifically, among Roman 
Catholics, the Bishop of Rome ; the Pope. 
And so my Boke ... is affermed and preved be oure 
holy Fadir, in mauer and forme as I have seyd. 
Mandeeille, Travels, p. 315. 
This, in our 'foresaid holy father's name, 
Pope Innocent, I do demand of thee. 
Shak., K. John, iii. 1. 
We by that authority Apostolic 
Given unto us, his Legate, by the Pope, 
Our Lord and Holy Father, Julius, . . . 
Do here absolve you. 
Tennyson, Queen Mary, iii. 3. 
To be gathered to one's fathers, in Scrip., to die and 
be buried. 
father (fii'THer), t>. <. [< father, n.] 1. To be- 
get as a father ; become the father or progeni- 
tor of. 
Ismael indeed doth live (the Lord replies), 
And lives to father mighty Progenies. 
Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, ii., The Vocation. 
Cowards father cowards, and base things sire base. 
Shak., Cymbeline, iv. 2. 
If any one had fathered villain purposes, those bastards 
of the soul's begetting would be sure to return and plague 
their parent. T. Winthrop, Cecil Dreeme, iv. 
2. To acknowledge or treat as a son or daugh- 
ter; act as a father toward. 
I could well tin.l in my heart to cast out in some desert 
of forgetfulness this child, which I am loath to father. 
Sir f. Sidney, Arcadia, Ded. 
Of whiche nombre of heathens, ye Romaines are also 
touching your nacion, but by adopcion and fathering 
called all to the right title of Inheritance and surname of 
Jesus Christe. J. Udall, On Rom. i. 
Imo. Ill . . . follow you, 
So please you entertain me. 
Lucius. Ay, good youth ; 
And rather father thee than master thee. 
Shak., Cymbeline, iv. 2. 
3. To assume as one's own; profess or ac- 
knowledge one's self to be the owner or author 
of. 
Men of wit 
Often/otAer'd what he writ. Swift. 
A man's fathering a production . . . ought to establish 
his claim. Goldsmith, Criticisms. 
4. To give a father to ; furnish with a father. 
Think you I am no stronger than my sex, 
Being aofather'd and so husbanded? 
Shak., 3. C., it 2. 
5. To ascribe or charge to one as his offspring 
or production ; fix the generation or author- 
ship of : with on or upon. 
Father my bairn on whom I will, 
I'll father nane on thee. 
The Youny Tamlane (Child's Ballads, I. 118). 
Come, father not your lies upon me, widow. 
Middleton, The Widow, v. 1. 
My name was made use of by several persons, one of 
which was pleased to father on me a new set of produc- 
tions. Swift. 
fatherhood (fa'THer-hud), n. [< ME. fadir- 
hode; < father + -hood.~\ The state of being a 
father; the relation or authority of a father: 
as, the fatherhood of God. 
I would ask, 
With leave of your grave fatherhoods, if their plot 
Have any face or colour like to truth ? 
B. Jonson, Volpone, iv. 2. 
We might have had an entire notion of this fatherhood, 
or fatherly authority. Locke. 
He saw the hated fatherhood reasserted. 
George Eliot, Felix Holt, xlvii. 
His holy fatherhood) , a title of the pope. 
And besoughte his holy Fadirhode that my Bokemyght- 
en be examyned and corrected be avys of his wyse and 
discreet Conseille. Alandeville, Travels, p. 315. 
father-in-law (fa'<FHer-in-la'), n. [< ME. fadir 
inlawe: see father and law 1 .} 1. The father 
of a husband or wife, considered in his relation- 
ship to the other spouse. 
Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the 
priest of Midian. Ex. iii. 1. 
The first that there did greet my stranger soul 
Was my great father-in- law, renowned Warwick. 
Shak., Rich. III., i. 4. 
2. A stepfather. [Now colloq. in Great Brit- 
ain.] 
Stan. Fortune and victory sit on thy helm ! 
Jtichin. All comfort that the dark night can afford 
Be to thy person, noble father-in-law! 
Tell me how fares our noble mother ? 
Shak., Rich. III., T. 3. 
I know Nancy could not bear a father-in-law ; she would 
fly at the very thought of my being in earnest to give her 
one. Sichardson, Clarissa Harlowe, iv. 186. 
fathom 
fatherland (fii'THor-Iand), . [< father + land, 
after D. vaderland = MUG. ratcrlant, G. voter- 
land = Dan. fa-dreland = Sw. fadrntrxlti ml. ( 'f. 
L. patria, Gr. irdrpa and irarpit;, one's native 
country, fatherland, < L. pater, Gr. irari/p, = E. 
father.'} One's native country, or the land or 
country of one's fathers or ancestors. 
Sweet it was to dream of Fatherland. 
Tennyson, Lotos-Eaters. 
Fetichism discharged a great duty in that it first formed 
the patriotic instincts, by giving to men a notion of father- 
land and an attachment to a particular soil. 
Keary, Prim. Belief, p. 09. 
fatherlasher (fii'THer-lash'er), . [Origin ob- 
scure.] The Coitus bubalis, a fish of the family 
Cottidie. It is from 8 to 10 inches in length. The head 
is large, and is furnished with several formidable spines. 
It is found on the rocky coasts of Great Britain and near 
Newfoundland and Greenland. In the latter country it 
attains a much larger size, and is an important article of 
food. 
fatherless (fii'THer-les), a. [< ME. faderles, < 
AS. fcederleds (= D. vaderloos = G. vater/os 
= Dan. Sw. faderlos), < fa'der, father, + -leas, 
E. -less.] 1. Without a living father: as, a 
fatherless child. 
Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 
Ex. xxii. 22. 
2. Springing from an orphaned condition. 
[Rare.] 
Our fatherless distress was left unmoan'd ; 
Your widow-dolour likewise be unwept ! 
5Ao*., Rich. III., ii. 2. 
3. Without a known author. 
There's already a thousand fatherless tales amongst us. 
Beau, and Fl., Philaster, iv. 2. 
fatherlessness (fa'raer-les-nes), n. The state 
of being fatherless. 
fatherliness (fii'THer-li-nes), n. The state or 
quality of being fatherly; resemblance to a 
kind father ; parental kindness, care, and ten- 
derness. 
father-long-legs (fa'THer-ldng'legz), n. Same 
as daddy-long-legs, I. 
fatherly (fa'Tner-li), a. [< ME. 'faderly, < AS. 
*fa-dcrlic (= D. raderlijk = G. vaterlich = Dan. 
Sw. faderlig), of or belonging to a father, < f ai- 
der, father, 4- -lie, E. -ly 1 .] 1. Pertaining or 
proper to a father: as, fatherly authority. 
For the rest, 
Our own detention, why, the causes weigh'd 
Fatherly fears ... we pardon it. 
Tennyson, Princess, T. 
2. Due from a father; like a kind father in 
affection and care ; tender; paternal; protect- 
ing; careful: as, fatherly care or affection. 
You have show'd a tender fatherly regard. 
Shak., T. of the S., it 1. 
= Syn. Fatherly, Paternal, Parental. Fatherly represents 
that which is more kind or tenderer forbearing ; paternal 
and parental represent that which is more strict or official. 
fatherly (fa'THer-li), adv. In the manner of 
a father. [Rare.] 
He cannot choose but take this service I have done 
fatherly. Shak., Cymbeline, ii. 3. 
This child is not mine as the first was; 
I cannot sing it to rest, 
I cannot lift it up fatherly 
And bless it upon my breast. 
Lowell, The Changeling. 
fathership (fa'THer-ship), . [< fatlier + 
-ship. Cf. D. vaderschap = G. raterschaft = 
Sw. faderskap.'} The state of being a father. 
father-sick (fii'THer-sik), a. Pining for one's 
father. [Rare.] 
An angel in some things, but a baby in others ; so 
father-sick, so family-fond. 
Richardson, Clarissa Harlowe, III. 316. 
fathom (faTH'um), n. ; pi. fathoms or fathom. 
[Early mod. E. and dial, also fadoni, faddom; 
< ME. fathome, commonly with d,fadome, fad- 
erne, usually without the inserted vowel, fad- 
me, fedme (prop, a dat. and pi. form), a mea- 
sure of length, about 6 feet, also an ell or cubit 
(L. ulna), < AS. faithm, a measure of length, 
an ell or cubit (cf. gloss, " Cubitum, fasthm be- 
twux elbogan and hondwyrste," i. e., 'cubit, 
the space between elbow and wrist'), also of 
a longer measure, a fathom (as in an early gloss, 
" Passus, fa-thm vel tuegen stridi," i. e., 'pace, 
a fathom or two strides' the L. passus being 
about 5 feet) ; orig. the space reached over by 
the extended arms, faithm meaning generally 
the extended arms, the embracing arms, em- 
brace, bosom, grasp, power, an expanse, etc., 
= OS. fathmos, pi., the extended arms, = OD. 
vadem, a cubit, fathom, a stretched thread, D. 
vadem, a fathom, = l*G.fadem, faem, a cubit, a 
thread, = OHG. fadam, fadum, MHG. vadem, 
