Dictionary
god•fa•ther
Pronunciation: (god'fä"&thslash;ur), [key]—
n.
1. a man who serves as sponsor for a child at baptism.
2. any male sponsor or guardian.
3. (often cap.) a powerful leader, esp. of the Mafia.
4. a person who is regarded as the originator or principal shaper of a movement, school of thought, art form, industry, or the like:
the godfather of abstract expressionism.
—
v.t.
to act as godfather to; be sponsor or protector for.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.