progenitor
pro.gen.i.tor \pro--'jen-*t-*r, pr*-\ n [ME, fr. MF progeniteur, fr. L progenitor, fr. progenitus, pp]. of progignere to beget, fr. pro- forth + gignere to beget - more at KIN 1a: an ancestor in the direct line : FOREFATHER 1b: a biologically ancestral form 2: ORIGINATOR, PRECURSOR