gĕnĭtor, ōris, m. [root GEN, gigno], a begetter, parent, father, creator, sire (syn.: pater, parens).
- I. Lit. (class.): quo (animo) nihil ab optimo et praestantissimo genitore melius procreatum, Cic. Univ. 8: imitantes genitorem et effectorem sui, id. ib. 13: dubio genitore creatus, Ov. M. 5, 145: Pelopis, i. e. Tantalus, Hor. C. 1, 28, 7: deūm, i. e. Jupiter, Ov. Am. 1, 13, 45; id. M. 14, 91; the same, Saturnius, Cic. poët. Div. 2, 30, 64: profundi, of Neptune, as ruler of the sea, Ov. M. 11, 202; and genitor alone, Verg. A. 1, 155; of Æneas, id. ib. 1, 716; of Mars: bellorum, Sil. 3, 126; of the deified Romulus: o Romule, Romule die! O pater, o genitor, Enn. ap. Cic. Rep. 1, 41, 64 (Ann. v. 117 Vahl.); so, genitorque Quirine Urbis, Ov. M. 15, 862 (cf.: hujus urbis parens Romulus, Cic. Div. 1, 2, 3).
- II. Transf. (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): qua rapitur praeceps Rhodanus genitore Lemanno, source, Aus. Urb. 13, 7: adsciscet nova, quae genitor produxerit usus, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 119: o fraudum genitor, Sil. 13, 738; cf.: Graeci vitiorum omnium genitores, Plin. 15, 4, 5, § 19.