Fathers meaning : A (generally human) male who begets a child. A male ancestor more remote than a parent; a progenitor; especially, a first ancestor. A term of respectful address for an elderly man. A term of respectful address for a priest. A person who plays the role of a father in some way. The founder of a discipline or science. Something that is the greatest or most significant of its kind. Something inanimate that begets. A senator of Ancient Rome. To be a father to; to sire. To give rise to. To act as a father; to support and nurture. To provide with a father. To adopt as one's own.