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:
“My father liked to moralize, and so do I. But he was in earnest, while I am embarrassed and pretend that I am merely being witty.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
“My father is one of the few men I know who say they do not like Shakespeare. He says “Shakespeare is so very coarse.” I could forgive my father for not liking Shakespeare if it was only because Shakespeare wrote poetry, but this is not the reason. He says he likes Tennyson and this gravely aggravates his offence.”
—Samuel Butler (1835–1902)
“That reverend Vice, that grey Iniquity, that father Ruffian,
that Vanity in years.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)