Parens

Lat In Roman law. A parent; originally and properly only the father or mother of the person spoken of; but also, by an extension of its meaning, any relative, male or female, In the line of direct ascent.

— Parens patriæ. Parent of the country. In England, the king. In the United States, the state, as a sovereign, is the parens patnœ. "Parens" est nomen generale ad omne genus cognationis. Co. Litt. 80. "Parent" is a name general for every kind of relationship.