Patriarch

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈpeɪtɹɪɑːk/

Origin

Old English patriarcha, from Late Latin patriarcha; later reinforced by Old French patriarche, from Byzantine Greek πατριάρχης ("the founder of the tribe/family"), from Ancient Greek πατριά ("generation, ancestry, descent, tribe, family") + -αρχης ("-arch").

Full definition of patriarch

Noun

1. (Christianity) The highest form of bishop, in the ancient world having authority over other bishops in the province but now generally as an honorary title; in Roman Catholicism, considered a bishop second only to the Pope in rank. from 9th c.
2. In Biblical contexts, a male leader of a family, tribe or ethnic group, especially one of the twelve sons of Jacob (considered to have created the twelve tribes of Israel) or (in plural) Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. from 13th c.
• 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Acts II:Men and brethren, lett me frely speake unto you of the patriarke David: For he is both deed and buryed, and his sepulcre remayneth with us unto this daye.
3. A founder of a political or religious movement, an organization or an enterprise. from 16th c.
4. An old leader of a village or community.
• 1819, , , “”:The opinions of this junto were completely controlled by Nicholas Vedder, a patriarch of the village, and landlord of the inn, at the door of which he took his seat from morning to night, just moving sufficiently to ... keep in the shade of a large tree; ...
5. The male head of a tribal line or family.

Synonyms

• paterfamilias

Antonyms

• matriarch, materfamilias