Wiktionary

patriarch

See also: Patriarch

English

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Etymology

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From Middle English patriark, patriarche, from Late Latin patriarcha; later reinforced by Old French patriarche, from Byzantine Greek πατριάρχης (patriárkhēs, “the founder of the tribe/family”), from Ancient Greek πατριά (patriá, “generation, ancestry, descent, tribe, family”) + -ᾰ́ρχης (-árkhēs, “-arch”), with some senses likely influenced directly by Latin pāter (“father”) or Ancient Greek πᾰτήρ (patḗr, “father”). Compare matriarch. By surface analysis, patri- +‎ -arch.

Pronunciation

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  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈpeɪtɹɪɑːk/, /ˈpætɹiɑːk/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈpeɪt͡ʃɹiɑɹk/

Noun

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patriarch (plural patriarchs)

  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.]
  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 June 23, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “Rip Van Winkle”, in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., number I, New York, N.Y.: […] C[ornelius] S. Van Winkle, […], →OCLC, page 68:
      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 till night, just moving sufficiently to […] keep in the shade of a large tree; […]
  5. The male progenitor of a genetic or tribal line, or of a clan or extended family.
    Synonyms: ancestor, forebear, forefather
  6. The male head of a household or nuclear family.
    Synonyms: highfather, paterfamilias

Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Dutch

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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patriarch m (plural patriarchen, diminutive patriarchje n, feminine matriarch)

  1. patriarch
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