PATRIARCH

patriarch

(noun) a man who is older and higher in rank than yourself

patriarch

(noun) any of the early biblical characters regarded as fathers of the human race

patriarch, paterfamilias

(noun) the male head of family or tribe

patriarch

(noun) title for the heads of the Eastern Orthodox Churches (in Istanbul and Alexandria and Moscow and Jerusalem)

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

patriarch (plural patriarches)

(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.]

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.]

A founder of a political or religious movement, an organization or an enterprise. [from 16th c.]

An old leader of a village or community.

The male progenitor of a genetic or tribal line, or of a clan or extended family.

Synonyms: ancestor, forebear, forefather

The male head of a household or nuclear family.

Synonyms: highfather, paterfamilias

Antonyms

• matriarch, materfamilias

Source: Wiktionary

Pa"tri*arch, n. Etym: [F. patriarche, L. patriarcha, Gr. Father, Archaic.]

1. The father and ruler of a family; one who governs his family or descendants by paternal right; -- usually applied to heads of families in ancient history, especially in Biblical and Jewish history to those who lived before the time of Moses.

2. (R. C. Ch. & Gr. Ch.)

Definition: A dignitary superior to the order of archbishops; as, the patriarch of Constantinople, of Alexandria, or of Antioch.

3. A venerable old man; an elder. Also used figuratively. The patriarch hoary, the sage of his kith and the hamlet. Longfellow. The monarch oak, the partiarch of trees. Dryde.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition