forefather/ˈfɔ:fɑ:ðə(r); `fɔrˌfɑðɚ/ n[C usu pl 通常作复数]person from whom one is descended; ancestor, esp a male 祖宗, 祖先（尤指男性） the religion of his forefathers 他祖先的宗教信仰.
牛津英汉双解词典