Patriarch

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: pa=tri=arch

CIDE DICTIONARY

Patriarch, n. [F. patriarche, L. patriarcha, Gr. paria`rchhs, fr. paria` lineage, especially on the father's side, race; path`r father + 'archo`s a leader, chief, fr. 'a`rchein to lead, rule. See Father, Archaic.].

•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  A dignitary superior to the order of archbishops; as, the patriarch of Constantinople, of Alexandria, or of Antioch.  [1913 Webster]
•  A venerable old man; an elder. Also used figuratively.  [1913 Webster]

  "The patriarch hoary, the sage of his kith and the hamlet."  [1913 Webster]

  "The monarch oak, the partiarch of trees."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Patriarch, n.
1 the male head of a family or tribe.
2 (often in pl.) Bibl. any of those regarded as fathers of the human race, esp. the sons of Jacob, or Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their forefathers.
3 Eccl. a the title of a chief bishop, esp. those presiding over the Churches of Antioch, Alexandria, Constantinople, and (formerly) Rome; now also the title of the heads of certain autocephalous Orthodox Churches. b (in the Roman Catholic Church) a bishop ranking next above primates and metropolitans, and immediately below the pope. c the head of a Uniate community.
4 a the founder of an order, science, etc. b a venerable old man. c the oldest member of a group.

Derivative

patriarchal adj. patriarchally adv.

Etymology

ME f. OF patriarche f. eccl.L patriarcha f. Gk patriarkhes f. patria family f. pater father + -arkhes -ruler

THESAURUS

Patriarch

Aaronic priesthood, Father Time, Grand Penitentiary, Holy Father, Melchizedek priesthood, Methuselah, Nestor, Old Paar, Seventy, abba, abuna, ancestors, antecedents, antediluvian, antipope, antique, apostle, archbishop, archdeacon, architect, archpriest, ascendants, author, back number, bishop, bishop coadjutor, boss, bwana, canon, cardinal, cardinal bishop, cardinal deacon, cardinal priest, centenarian, chaplain, chef, chief, church dignitary, coadjutor, conservative, creator, curate, dad, daddy, deacon, dean, diocesan, dodo, dotard, ecclesiarch, elder, elders, employer, exarch, father, fathers, fogy, forebears, forefathers, fossil, foster father, founder, fud, fuddy-duddy, gaffer, geezer, generator, genitor, golden-ager, goodman, governor, gramps, grandfather, grandfathers, grandparents, grandsire, granny, graybeard, guru, has-been, hierarch, high priest, husband, inventor, liege, liege lord, longhair, lord, lord paramount, maker, master, matriarch, metropolitan, mid-Victorian, mossback, nonagenarian, octogenarian, old believer, old chap, old codger, old crock, old dodo, old dog, old duffer, old fogy, old geezer, old gent, old gentleman, old liner, old man, old party, old poop, old woman, old-timer, older, oldster, originator, overlord, pa, padrone, pantaloon, pap, papa, pappy, paramount, pater, paterfamilias, patriarchs, patron, penitentiary, pontiff, pop, pope, pops, prebendary, predecessors, prelate, presbyter, priest, primate, progenitors, rabbi, reactionary, rector, regular old fogy, relic, rural dean, sahib, seigneur, seignior, senior citizen, septuagenarian, sexagenarian, sire, square, starets, stepfather, subdean, suffragan, teacher, the old man, the quiet-voiced elders, traditionalist, venerable sir, veteran, vicar

ROGET THESAURUS

Patriarch

Veteran

N veteran, old man, seer, patriarch, graybeard, grandfather, grandsire, grandam, gaffer, gammer, crone, pantaloon, sexagenarian, octogenarian, nonagenarian, centenarian, old stager, dotard, preadamite, Methuselah, Nestor, old Parr, elders, forefathers, superfluous lags the veteran on the stage.

Clergy

N clergy, clericals, ministry, priesthood, presbytery, the cloth, the desk, clergyman, divine, ecclesiastic, churchman, priest, presbyter, hierophant, pastor, shepherd, minister, father, father in Christ, padre, abbe, cure, patriarch, reverend, black coat, confessor, dignitaries of the church, ecclesiarch, hierarch, ebdomarius, eminence, reverence, elder, primate, metropolitan, archbishop, bishop, prelate, diocesan, suffragan, dean, subdean, archdeacon, prebendary, canon, rural dean, rector, parson, vicar, perpetual curate, residentiary, beneficiary, incumbent, chaplain, curate, deacon, deaconess, preacher, reader, lecturer, capitular, missionary, propagandist, Jesuit, revivalist, field preacher, churchwarden, sidesman, clerk, precentor, choir, almoner, suisse, verger, beadle, sexton, sacristan, acolyth, acolothyst, acolyte, altar boy, chorister, Pope, Papa, pontiff, high priest, cardinal, ancient flamen, flamen, confessor, penitentiary, spiritual director, cenobite, conventual, abbot, prior, monk, friar, lay brother, beadsman, mendicant, pilgrim, palmer, canon regular, canon secular, Franciscan, Friars minor, Minorites, Observant, Capuchin, Dominican, Carmelite, Augustinian, Gilbertine, Austin Friars, Black Friars, White Friars, Gray Friars, Crossed Friars, Crutched Friars, Bonhomme, Carthusian, Benedictine, Cistercian, Trappist, Cluniac, Premonstatensian, Maturine, Templar, Hospitaler, Bernardine, Lorettine, pillarist, stylite, abbess, prioress, canoness, religieuse, nun, novice, postulant, prophet, priest, high priest, Levite, Rabbi, Rabbin, Rebbe, scribe, mullah, muezzin, ayatollah, ulema, imaum, imam, sheik, sufi, kahin, kassis, mufti, hadji, dervish, fakir, faquir, brahmin, guru, kaziaskier, poonghie, sanyasi, druid, bonze, santon, abdal, Lama, talapoin, caloyer, the Reverend, the very Reverend, the Right Reverend, ordained, in orders, called to the ministry.