FATHERING

A male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

Example: "His father was born in atlanta"

`father' is a term of address for priests in some churches (especially the roman catholic church or the orthodox catholic church); `padre' is frequently used in the military

The founder of a family

Example: "Keep the faith of our forefathers"

(christianity) any of about 70 theologians in the period from the 2nd to the 7th century whose writing established and confirmed official church doctrine; in the roman catholic church some were later declared saints and became doctor of the church; the best known latin church fathers are ambrose, augustine, gregory the great, and jerome; those who wrote in greek include athanasius, basil, gregory nazianzen, and john chrysostom

God when considered as the first person in the trinity

Example: "Hear our prayers, heavenly father"

A person who holds an important or distinguished position in some organization

Example: "The tennis fathers ruled in her favor"

A person who founds or establishes some institution

Example: "George washington is the father of his country"

The head of an organized crime family