A father (or dad) is defined as a male parent or Individual progenitor of human offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to a father and comparatively to "maternal" for a mother. The verb "to father" means to procreate or to sire a child from which also derives the gerund "fathering". Fathers determine the gender of their child through a sperm cell which either contains an X chromosome (female), or Y chromosome (male).
Read more about Father: Etymology, Relationship With Children, Determination of Parenthood, History of Fatherhood, Father–offspring Conflict, Categories, Non-human Fatherhood
Famous quotes containing the word father:
“Cursed be the hand that fired the shot,
The frenzied brain that hatched the plot,
Thy country’s Father slain
By thee, thou worse than Cain!”
—Richard Henry Stoddard (1825–1903)
“Many single parents say that they feel they have to be both a mother and a father to the child. This is impossible, so you may as well rule out that idea.... As a single parent, you cannot be both a man and a woman. Who you are is a parent.”
—Lawrence Balter (20th century)
“I see you boys of summer in your ruin.
Man in his maggot’s barren.
And boys are full and foreign in the pouch.
I am the man your father was.
We are the sons of flint and pitch.
O see the poles are kissing as they cross.”
—Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)