housefather

[hous-fah-ther]

noun

1. a man responsible for a group of young people, as students, living in a dormitory, hostel, etc.

housefather

/ ˈhaʊsˌfɑːðə /

noun

1. a man in charge of the welfare of a particular group of children in an institution such as a children's home or approved school

Other Word Forms

• housemother noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of housefather¹

1545–55; house + father; compare Latin paterfamilias

Example Sentences

Dasani’s housefather tries to soften the landing by making his homiest dish — lasagna.

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Paul Diment, is a housefather at the school, in charge of one of the houses which are designed to feel more like home than school.

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Blood relationship, family, and the rulership of the housefather are in this early period the base and centre of social order.

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“Nothing warm in the house,” said the housefather, a carpenter himself. 

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Every housefather is a priest in his own house, every housemother is a priestess; therefore see that you help us to perform the office of the ministry in your homes as we do in church.

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