Provided is a compound that can be used as a base resin for a photosensitive resin composition. The photosensitive resin can form a fine pattern and can achieve high resolution without impairing mechanical strength and solubility. The compound is represented by the general formula (1): wherein Z represents a linear, branched or cyclic divalent hydrocarbon group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms; X1 to X3 represent any of —CO2—, —CONRX1—, —O—, —NRX1—, —S—, —SO2—, —SO3— and —SO2NRX1— and may be the same as or different from each other, provided that RX1 is a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms; Ar represents a divalent aromatic group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms; L1 and L2 independently represent a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms; and x and y are each independently 0 or 1.