Definition of GRANDFATHER

grandfather

Meanings

Plural: grandfathers

Noun

  • the father of your father or mother
  • A father of someone's parent.
  • A male forefather.
  • The archived older version of a file that immediately preceded the father file.

Verb

  • To be, or act as, a grandfather to.
  • To retain discontinued laws or rules for (an object, individual or organization previously affected by them).

Origin / Etymology

The noun is derived from Middle English grandfadre, graundfadir, graunfadir, grauntfader, and other forms, from graunt (“big, large; great, important”) + fā̆der (“male parent, father; remoter male ancestor”), probably modelled after Middle French grandpere, grant pere (“male parent; remoter male ancestor”) (whence French grand-père); the English word is analysable as grand- + father. Superseded earlier eldfather, elderfather. The verb is derived from the noun.

Scrabble Score: 19

grandfather is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
grandfather is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
grandfather is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 20

grandfather is a valid Words With Friends word