from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
parent \par"ent\ (p[^a]r"ent or p[=a]r"ent; 277), n. [L. parens,
-entis; akin to parere to bring forth; cf. Gr. porei^n to
give, beget: cf. F. parent. Cf. {Part}.]
1. One who begets, or brings forth, offspring; a father or a
mother.
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Children, obey your parents in the Lord. --Eph. vi.
1.
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2. That which produces; cause; source; author; begetter; as,
idleness is the parent of vice.
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Regular industry is the parent of sobriety.
--Channing.
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{Parent cell}. (Biol.) See {Mother cell}, under {Mother},
also {Cytula}.
{Parent nucleus} (Biol.), a nucleus which, in cell division,
divides, and gives rise to two or more daughter nuclei.
See {Karyokinesis}, and {Cell division}, under {Division}.
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