Etymology: < (i) Anglo-Norman and Middle French parent (noun) father or mother (second half of the 10th cent. in Old French as plural parents), ancestor (c1050 in Old French in an isolated attestation; subsequently from the 14th cent.), relative (second half of the 10th cent.; French parent), and its etymon (ii) classical Latin parent-, parēns father or mother, ancestor, protector, guardian, animal or plant considered in relation to its offspring, source, cause, origin, in post-classical Latin also relative, kinsman (6th cent.; from 10th cent. in British sources), use as noun of old participle of parere to produce, bring forth, beget < the same Indo-European base as Lithuanian perėti to hatch, brood. In other Romance languages the sense ‘relative’ is more widespread than the Latinate sense ‘father or mother’; compare (all as noun) Old Occitan, Occitan parent father or mother, relative (c1070; in Old Occitan also in sense ‘ancestor’), Spanish pariente relative (1200 or earlier; 1155 or earlier as parente), father or mother (1230; now obsolete), Catalan parent family member, relative (1240), father or mother (13th cent.; now obsolete), Italian parente relative (a1250), father or mother (a1311; now literary), Portuguese parente relative (late 13th cent.).The use as adjective (sense B.) is not paralleled in French until much later. With (our) first parents (see sense A. 1b) compare post-classical Latin parentes primi (4th or 5th cent. in Augustine), Middle French noz premiers parens (c1361 or earlier; French nos premiers parents).

Etymology: Either aphetic < apparent adj., or < Middle French parant apparent, visible, of eminent or distinguished appearance (13th cent. in Old French; c1160 in sense ‘good-looking, of good quality’), use as adjective of present participle of paroir to seem, appear, be visible, be remarkable (c1100 in Old French in sense ‘to appear’ (of the dawn); French †paroir) < classical Latin pārēre to appear, be visible, of uncertain origin (see note).It has been suggested that classical Latin pārēre may be related to ancient Greek πεπαρεῖν to show, but it is difficult to reconcile the vocalism. With sense 1 compare pearing heir n. at pearing adj.

Etymology: < classical Latin pārent-, pārēns obedient, use as adjective of present participle of pārēre to obey, also to appear, be visible (see parent adj.¹).

Etymology: < parent n. With sense 2 compare earlier parenting n.