The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms - parentn.

1) father or mother, progenitor, progenitrix, procreator, begetter, materfamilias or paterfamilias; foster-parent, stepmother or stepfather, guardian, Colloq old lady or old man, Brit old-fashioned or facetiousmater or pater: Most teenagers clash with their parents sooner or later. 2) source, origin, originator, well-spring, fountain-head, root: The liturgy of St James is undoubtedly the parent of the Armenian Rite.