patrician

[ puh-trish-uhn ]

noun

1. a person of noble or high rank; aristocrat.
2. a person of very good background, education, and refinement.
3. a member of the original senatorial aristocracy in ancient Rome.
4. (under the later Roman and Byzantine empires) a title or dignity conferred by the emperor.
5. a member of a hereditary ruling class in certain medieval German, Swiss, and Italian free cities.

adjective

1. of high social rank or noble family; aristocratic.
2. befitting or characteristic of persons of very good background, education, and refinement:

   patrician tastes.

   Synonyms: stately, genteel, dignified

3. of or belonging to the patrician families of ancient Rome.

patrician

/ pəˈtrɪʃən /

noun

1. See plebs
   a member of the hereditary aristocracy of ancient Rome. In the early republic the patricians held almost all the higher offices Compare plebs
2. a high nonhereditary title awarded by Constantine and his eastern Roman successors for services to the empire
3. in medieval Europe
   1. a title borne by numerous princes including several emperors from the 8th to the 12th centuries
   2. a member of the upper class in numerous Italian republics and German free cities
4. an aristocrat
5. a person of refined conduct, tastes, etc

adjective

1. (esp in ancient Rome) of, relating to, or composed of patricians
2. aristocratic
3. oligarchic and often antidemocratic or nonpopular

   patrician political views

Other Words From

• pa·trician·hood pa·trician·ship noun
• pa·trician·ism noun
• pa·trician·ly adverb
• prepa·trician adjective
• unpa·trician adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of patrician¹

First recorded in 1400–50; from Latin patrīci(us) “having the rank of patrician, noble,” (equivalent to patr-, stem of pater “father” + -īcius adjective suffix) + -an; replacing late Middle English patricion, from Old French patricien; patr- ( def ), -itious ( def ), -an ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of patrician¹

C15: from Old French patricien, from Latin patricius noble, from pater father

Example Sentences

Hopkins was “a bit of a bad boy” when he was starting out — he recently celebrated his 45th year of sobriety — but despite his own volcanic energy and humor, he has often been cast as the butler or the buttoned-up patrician.

From Washington Post

Yet there was another side to this cool, handsome patrician, and it set him apart from his fellow executives in the Motor City.

From The Daily Beast

But the editor appreciated patrician breeding, so the kid came to work.

From The Daily Beast

One of those votes belonged to Justice Lewis Powell, a well-heeled, patrician justice from Virginia appointed by Richard Nixon.

From The Daily Beast

In one corner: the patrician, privileged, well-mannered 35-year-old Quayle.

From The Daily Beast

He could be unbearably glib, but his patrician persona and acid tongue, his radiating sense of superiority, made for good showbiz.

From The Daily Beast

Andrea held up her hand to appease the patrician, whose exaggeration annulled his superiority.

From Project Gutenberg

"I want you to whip this malapert with your sword-scabbard," roared the old patrician, pale with anger.

From Project Gutenberg

However, the six oarsmen of the patrician craft were rapidly diminishing the distance.

From Project Gutenberg

During this period there was little to choose between the fare of the proudest patrician and the humblest client.

From Project Gutenberg

For the first eleven years after the passage of the Licinian Laws one consul was a plebeian and one a patrician.

From Project Gutenberg