patriarch
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈpeɪtɹɪɑːk/
ipa: /ˈpætɹiɑːk/
ipa: /ˈpeɪtɹiɑɹk/
Forms: form: patriarchs
Etymology: 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 (-ắrkhēs, “-arch”), with some senses likely influenced directly by Latin pāter (“father”) or Ancient Greek πᾰτήρ (pătḗr, “father”). Compare matriarch. By surface analysis, patri- + -arch.
Senses: topics: Christianity
glosses: 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.
examples: text: Men and brethren / lett me frely ſpeake vnto you of the patriarke David: For he is both deed and buryed / and his ſepulcre remayneth with vs vnto this daye.
ref: 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Acts ij:[29], folio clvj, recto:
topics: biblical
lifestyle
religion
glosses: 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.
glosses: A founder of a political or religious movement, an organization or an enterprise.
examples: text: 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; […]
ref: 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:
text: Fictional male antiheroes like television’s crime patriarchs Tony Soprano and Walter White have reigned for some time, but the antiheroine has only more recently had the opportunity to rise up – and become the cause of her own downfall.
ref: 2021 August 11, Jacqui Palumbo, “Rosamund Pike in ‘I Care a Lot’ and six more recommendations if you love an antiheroine”, in CNN:
glosses: An old leader of a village or community.
synonyms: ancestor
forebear
forefather
glosses: The male progenitor of a genetic or tribal line, or of a clan or extended family.
examples: text: The popular Duck Dynasty television show and Duck Commander products took center stage in a controversy over comments made by Phil Robertson. As patriarch of the family and founder of the company, he stars in the A&E reality show based on his Louisiana life and company.
ref: 2013 December 22, Gregory Wallace, “Cracker Barrel reverses decision to pull Duck Dynasty products”, in CNN Money:
synonyms: highfather
paterfamilias
glosses: The male head of a household or nuclear family.
Derived terms: anti-patriarch
patriarchal
patriarchdom
patriarched
patriarchess
patriarchism
patriarchist
Patriarchist
patriarchization
patriarchize
patriarchship