See also: pater familias

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From around 1425 to 1475 from late Middle English which itself came from the Latin term with the same meaning. From the Latin term pater ("father") + familiās, an archaic genitive of familia ("family", "household"). Literally meaning "father of the family" or "father of the household". Compare the English word family.

Noun

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paterfamilias (plural paterfamiliases or patresfamilias)

  1. A man who is the head of a household, family or tribe.

Synonyms

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Antonyms

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  • (antonym(s) of a woman who is the head of a household): materfamilias

Translations

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Spanish

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Noun

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paterfamilias m (plural paterfamilias)

  1. paterfamilias

Further reading

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