forefather, forefadre, forefader

[Pref. fore-, and Eng. father (q. v.); Dut. voorvader; Ger. vorvater; Icel. forfadhir.] An ancestor; one who in any degree of ascending genealogy precedes another; usually spoken of in a remote degree. "To cheer the rude forefathers of mankind." Cowper: Conversation, 454. Forefathers' day : The anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims (December 21, 1620), at Plymouth, Ma achusetts. före-feel, v . t . [Pref. fore- , and English feel (q. v.).] To feel beforehand; to be prescient of; to feel as if by presentiment.