Patriarch
['peɪtrɪɑːk] or ['petrɪɑrk]
Definition
(noun.) a man who is older and higher in rank than yourself.
(noun.) any of the early biblical characters regarded as fathers of the human race.
(noun.) the male head of family or tribe.
(noun.) title for the heads of the Eastern Orthodox Churches (in Istanbul and Alexandria and Moscow and Jerusalem).
Editor: Matt--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) 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.
(n.) A dignitary superior to the order of archbishops; as, the patriarch of Constantinople, of Alexandria, or of Antioch.
(n.) A venerable old man; an elder. Also used figuratively.
Typed by Ethan
Definition
n. one who governs his family by paternal right: (B.) one of the early heads of families from Adam downwards to Abraham Jacob and his sons: in Eastern churches a dignitary superior to an archbishop.—adjs. Patriarch′al Patriarch′ic belonging or subject to a patriarch: like a patriarch: of the nature of a patriarch.—ns. Pā′triarchalism the condition of tribal government by a patriarch; Pā′triarchate the office or jurisdiction of a patriarch or church dignitary: the residence of a patriarch; Pā′triarchism government by a patriarch; Pā′triarchy a community of related families under the authority of a patriarch.
Typist: Ursula
Examples
- In Washington he has made his home, and there scientists of all lands call to pay their respects to the patriarch of American inventors. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
- It was what the old dying patriarch demanded of his son Esau, promising in requital the blessing of his last breath. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- Everybody else within the bills of mortality was hot; but the Patriarch was perfectly cool. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- When he cast off the Patriarch at night, it was only to take an anonymous craft in tow, and labour away afresh in other waters. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- But he's a perfect Patriarch; and it would do a man good to serve him on such terms--on any terms. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- The Patriarch, meanwhile, came inanely beaming towards the counting-house in the wake of Pancks. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- This was in the days of the patriarch Abraham. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- A reverent old patriarch man as you be--seventy if a day--to go hornpiping like that by yourself! Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- In the Southern States, culture among the negroes is openly deplored, and I do not blame any patriarch for dreading the education of women. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- Uncle Tom was a sort of patriarch in religious matters, in the neighborhood. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- What's your name, my patriarch? Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- The room was soon filled with a motley assemblage, from the old gray-headed patriarch of eighty, to the young girl and lad of fifteen. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- The Patriarch was fast asleep, with his philanthropic mouth open under a yellow pocket-handkerchief in the dining-room. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- I am going,' said the Patriarch, finishing his mixture, and rising with an amiable air, 'to take a little stroll, a little stroll. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- He, the father, the Patriarch, was forced to deny the means of life to his sons, his people. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- Some patriarchs wore awful turbans, but the grand mass of the infidel horde wore the fiery red skull-cap they call a fez. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- I had rasher sail with a whole brigade of patriarchs than suffer so. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- Is any man insane enough to imagine that this picnic of patriarchs sang, made love, danced, laughed, told anecdotes, dealt in ungodly levity? Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- And now, after all, the last of the Patriarchs coolly walked into the parlour, saying in effect, 'Be good enough to throw it down and dance upon it. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- The Patriarchs were not dressed in bottle-green broadcloth, and yet his clothes looked patriarchal. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- He has his favourite box, he bespeaks all the papers, he is down upon bald patriarchs, who keep them more than ten minutes afterwards. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- The early Semitic gods, on the other hand, were thought of as tribal patriarchs. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- You're one of the Patriarchs; you're a shaky old card; and you can't be in love with this Lizzie? Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Here, you feel all the time just as if you were living about the year 1200 before Christ--or back to the patriarchs--or forward to the New Era. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- Various old ladies in the neighbourhood spoke of him as The Last of the Patriarchs. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
Checker: Wendy