Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1100-1200
Language: Old French
Origin: patriarche, from Late Latin, from Greek, from patria 'family' + -arches 'ruler'

patriarch

 noun
     
NEW! See related topics: CHRISTIANITYFAMILY
pa‧tri‧arch [countable]
1SSF an old man who is respected as the head of a family or tribe ➔ matriarch
2RRC a bishop in the early Christian church
3RRC a bishop of the Orthodox Christian churches who is very high in rank
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
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