Patri

¹

[ pah-tree ]

noun

1. An·ge·lo [an, -j, uh, -loh], 1877–1965, U.S. educator and writer, born in Italy.

patri-

²

1. a combining form meaning “father,” occurring originally in loanwords from Greek and Latin ( patriarch; patrician ), and used in the formation of new compounds ( patrilineal ).

patri-

combining_form

1. father

   patrilocal

   patricide

Word History and Origins

Origin of Patri¹

Combining form representing Latin pater, Greek patḗr father

Word History and Origins

Origin of Patri¹

from Latin pater, Greek patēr father

Example Sentences

Ibi tertium iam mensem ger decumbebat, cuius salus erat conclamata, quem Barbari visendum Patri obtulerunt.

From Project Gutenberg

He breaks out, indeed, into a burst of devotional praise—Gloria Patri—as if for some special and never-to-be-forgotten mercy.

From Project Gutenberg

The shouts of joy had ceased to be a burden to him; and no one cried 'Pater Patri' as he passed.

From Project Gutenberg

He was curiously fond of quotations, and the last words he uttered were 'Dulce et decorum est pro patri mori.'

From Project Gutenberg

Nec diu scelerum impunitus, patri consternatione perimitur; eadem spiritum eripiente, qu regnum largita fuerat.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use patri-

What does patri- mean?

The combining form patri- is used like a prefix meaning “father.” It is often used in a variety of scientific and technical terms, especially in anthropology.

Patri- comes from Latin pater, meaning “father.” The Greek cognate, also meaning “father,” is patḗr, which is the source of patriarchy. Find out more at our entry for the word.

The “mother” counterpart to patri- is matri-. Check out our Words That Use article for matri- to learn more.

What are variants of patri-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, patri- becomes the rare form patr-. Want to know more? Check out our Words That Use article for patr-.

Examples of patri-

An example of a word you may have encountered that features patri- is patrilineal, “the muscular substance of the heart.”

We know patri- means “father,” while the -lineal portion refers to “line,” from Latin līneālis. Patrilineal literally translates to “father’s line.”

What are some words that use the equivalent of the combining form patri- in Greek or Latin?

• patriarch
• patrician
• patrimony
• patriot

What are some other forms that patri- may be commonly confused with?

• patho-
• peri-

Break it down!

The combining form -cide means “killer” or “act of killing.” With this in mind, what is patricide?