co-father

English

Etymology

From co- +‎ father, in sense 1 as a calque of Latin compater, French compère.

Noun

co-father (plural co-fathers)

1. (obsolete) The relationship of a godfather to the other god-parents, and the legal parents, of a child.

   Synonyms: gossip, compadre, compère

   Coordinate term: co-mother

   • 1967, Charles Wagley, Joao José Rescála, Amazon town, page 153:

     A man invites a good friend, or an important man who might help him, to become his co-father.

2. In a male homosexual couple, the nonbiological father (partner of the biological father) of a child.

   Synonym: stepfather

   Coordinate term: co-mother

   • 2008, Elizabeth Rudd, Lara Descartes, The changing landscape of work and family in the American middle class, page 165:

     gay co-fathers and their children are never sure of finding acceptance in straight communities.

Coordinate terms

• co-parent

Related terms

• co-brother
• co-uncle
• co-grandfather
• co-husband
• co-father-in-law

Verb

co-father (third-person singular simple present co-fathers, present participle co-fathering, simple past and past participle co-fathered)

1. (figurative) To co-create
   • 1986, Joseph Beam, “Introduction”, in In The Life:

     Together, we, the contributors gathered here, have co-fathered a child — and it's a boy. He is strong and healthy and eager to be in this world.

Anagrams

• forteach