n. | 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. |
2. | (R. C. Ch. & Gr. Ch.) A dignitary superior to the order of archbishops; | |
3. | A venerable old man; an elder. Also used figuratively. |
Noun | 1. | Patriarch - title for the heads of the Eastern Orthodox Churches (in Istanbul and Alexandria and Moscow and Jerusalem) |
2. | patriarch - the male head of family or tribe Synonyms: paterfamilias | |
3. | patriarch - any of the early Biblical characters regarded as fathers of the human race | |
4. | patriarch - a man who is older and higher in rank than yourself |