grandfather
//ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌfɑːðə(r)//
Forms
- Plural
- grandfathers
- present (v1)
- grandfather
- past (v2)
- grandfathered
- past participle (v3)
- grandfathered
- present participle
- grandfathering
- 3rd person singular
- grandfathers
Definitions
1.A father of someone's parent.
- My grandfather passed away three years ago.
- My grandfather was an archaeologist.
2.A male forefather.
- My grandfather passed away three years ago.
- My grandfather was an archaeologist.
3.The archived older version of a file that immediately preceded the father file.
- File C is the grandfather because it was used to create file B.
- Three generations of file are usually kept, being the grandfather, father and son files.
- The file from which the father was developed with the transaction files of the appropriate day is the grandfather.
1.To retain discontinued laws or rules for (an object, individual or organization previously affected by them).
- Old power plants are sometimes grandfathered from having to meet new clean air requirements.
- Had the original work been permitted, it would be grandfathered into any code changes each time they occurred, Arvada officials said. The latest came in 2006.
2.To be, or act as, a grandfather to.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #3323
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
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.