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patriarch

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: Patriarch

English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

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 (-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.

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. (biblical) 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; []
    • 2021 August 11, Jacqui Palumbo, “Rosamund Pike in ‘I Care a Lot’ and six more recommendations if you love an antiheroine”, in CNN[1]:
      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.
  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
    • 2013 December 22, Gregory Wallace, “Cracker Barrel reverses decision to pull Duck Dynasty products”, in CNN Money[2]:
      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.

Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Dutch

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Etymology

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From Middle Dutch patriarch, from Latin patriarcha, from Ancient Greek πατριάρχης (patriárkhēs).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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

  1. patriarch

Derived terms

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Descendants

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  • Afrikaans: patriarg

Welsh

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Ecclesiastical Latin patriarcha, possibly via Middle English patriarch.

Pronunciation

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This entry needs pronunciation information. If you are familiar with the IPA then please add some!

Noun

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patriarch m (plural patriarchiaid)

  1. patriarch

Derived terms

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Mutation

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Mutated forms of patriarch
radical soft nasal aspirate
patriarch batriarch mhatriarch phatriarch

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Welsh.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

Further reading

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  • D. G. Lewis, N. Lewis, editors (2005–present), “patriarch”, in Gweiadur: the Welsh–English Dictionary, Gwerin
  • R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “patriarch”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies