a term of relation denoting a person who hath begot a child. See Parent and Child. By the laws of Romulus, a father had an unlimited power over his children. Amongst the Lacedemonians, as we learn from Aristotle's politics, the father of three children was excused from the duty of mounting guard for the security of the city; and a father of four children, was exempted from every public burden. The Poppean law amongst the Romans, granted many valuable privileges to the fathers of three children; amongst which one was, that he should be excused from civil offices, and that the mother should have liberty, in her father's life-time, to make a will, and manage her estate without the authority of tutors.

Natural Father, is he who has illegitimate children. See Bastard; and Law, No. cxi. 33. clxxii. 3, 4.

theology, is used in speaking of the First Person of the Trinity.

Father, is also used in speaking of spiritual and moral things. Thus, Abraham is called the "father of the faithful."

church-history, is applied to ancient authors who have preserved in their writings the traditions of the church. Thus St Chrysostom, St Basil, &c., are called Greek fathers, and St Augustine and St Ambrose Latin fathers. No author who wrote later than the 12th century is dignified with the title of Father.

Father, is also a title of honour given to prelates and dignitaries of the church, to the superiors of convents, to congregations of ecclesiastics, and to persons venerable for their age or quality. Thus we say, the right reverend father in God, the father-general of the Benedictines, the fathers of the council of Nice, father of his country, &c.