[[father]] --- - Often supposed to be from [`*peh₂-`](root-protect.md) (“to protect, shepherd”) + [`*-tḗr`](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-t%E1%B8%97r "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-tḗr") (agent suffix). - PIE `ph₂tḗr` ("father") [Skt. `pitár`, Grk. `patḗr`, Lat. `pater`] - PIE [[day-sky-father]] A father is the protector/head of the household (Lat. `pater familias`)