ancestor
/ˈæn.sɛs.tə/
One from whom a person is descended, whether on the father's or mother's side, at any distance of time; a progenitor; a forefather.
An earlier type; a progenitor
This fossil animal is regarded as the ancestor of the horse.
One from whom an estate has descended;—the correlative of heir.
One who had the same role or function in former times.
A word or phrase which serves as the origin of a term in another language.