| Patriarch | n. [ F. patriarche, L. patriarcha, Gr. paria`rchhs, fr. paria` lineage, especially on the father's side, race; path`r father + 'archo`s a leader, chief, fr. 'a`rchein to lead, rule. See 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. (R. C. Ch. & Gr. Ch.) A dignitary superior to the order of archbishops; as, the patriarch of Constantinople, of Alexandria, or of Antioch. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. A venerable old man; an elder. Also used figuratively. [ 1913 Webster ] The patriarch hoary, the sage of his kith and the hamlet. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ] The monarch oak, the partiarch of trees. Dryde. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Patriarchal | a. [ Cf. F. patriarcal. ] 1. Of or pertaining to a patriarch or to patriarchs; possessed by, or subject to, patriarchs; as, patriarchal authority or jurisdiction; a patriarchal see; a patriarchal church. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Characteristic of a patriarch; venerable. [ 1913 Webster ] About whose patriarchal knee
Late the little children clung. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. (Ethnol.) Having an organization of society and government in which the head of the family exercises authority over all its generations. [ 1913 Webster ]
Patriarchal cross (Her.), a cross, the shaft of which is intersected by two transverse beams, the upper one being the smaller. See Illust. (2) of Cross. --
Patriarchal dispensation, the divine dispensation under which the patriarchs lived before the law given by Moses. [ 1913 Webster ]
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| Patriarchate | n. [ Cf. F. patriarcat. ] 1. The office, dignity, or jurisdiction of a patriarch. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. The residence of an ecclesiastic patriarch. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. (Ethnol.) A patriarchal form of government or society. See Patriarchal, a., 3. [ 1913 Webster ] |
