godfather

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English godfader, from Old English godfæder (“godfather”), equivalent to god- +‎ father. Cognate with Old Saxon godfadar (“godfather”), Middle Dutch godvader (“godfather”), Danish gudfader, gudfar (“godfather”), Swedish gudfader, gudfar (“godfather”), Icelandic guðfaðir (“godfather”). === Pronunciation === (General American) IPA(key): /ˈɡɑdfɑðɚ/ (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈɡɒdfɑːðə/ Hyphenation: god‧father === Noun === godfather (plural godfathers) (Christianity) A man present at the christening of a baby who promises to help raise the child in a Christian manner; a male godparent who sponsors the baptism of a child. (figurative) Someone who plays a key role in fostering the development of something. (crime) A mafia leader. Coordinate term: goombah A small post which is used in repairing a fence. For instance attached to and supporting an existing broken fence post. ==== Synonyms ==== (male guardian): (Singapore, informal) godpa ==== Hypernyms ==== godparent ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === godfather (third-person singular simple present godfathers, present participle godfathering, simple past and past participle godfathered) (transitive, often figuratively) To act as godfather or guardian to. === Further reading === godfather on Wikipedia.Wikipedia