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paterfamilias
[ pey-ter-fuh-mil-ee-uhs, pah-, pat-er- ]
/ ˌpeɪ tər fəˈmɪl i əs, ˌpɑ-, ˌpæt ər- /
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noun, plural pa·ter·fa·mil·i·as·es for 1, pa·tres·fa·mil·i·as [pey-treez-fuh-mil-ee-uhs, pah-, pa-] /ˌpeɪ triz fəˈmɪl i əs, ˌpɑ-, ˌpæ-/ for 2.
the male head of a household or family, usually the father.
Roman Law.
- the head of the Roman family; a juridical entity who holds the patria potestas.
- a person who is not under the patria potestas of another.
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Origin of paterfamilias
OTHER WORDS FROM paterfamilias
pa·ter·fa·mil·iar, adjectivepa·ter·fa·mil·iar·ly, adverbWords nearby paterfamilias
patentor, patent right, Patent Rolls, patent still, pater, paterfamilias, paternal, paternalism, paternalistic, paternity, paternity leave
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use paterfamilias in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for paterfamilias
paterfamilias
/ (ˌpeɪtəfəˈmɪlɪˌæs) /
noun plural patresfamilias (ˌpɑːtreɪzfəˈmɪlɪˌæs)
the male head of a household
Roman law
- the head of a household having authority over its members
- the parental or other authority of another person
Word Origin for paterfamilias
Latin: father of the family
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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