# fore-elder

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. A progenitor or ancestor.

## Etymology
From Middle English foreldre, from fore- (“fore-”) + eldre (“elder, ancestor”); equivalent to fore- + elder. Compare Old Norse foreldrar (“fore-elders”, plural), whence Danish forældre (“parents”), Swedish föräldrar (“parents”). Compare also Dutch voorouder (“ancestor”), German Voreltern (“ancestors”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/fore-elder