paterfamilias

noun pa·ter·fa·mil·i·as \ˌpa-tər-fə-ˈmi-lē-əs, ˌpä-, ˌpā-\

: a man who is the head of a family

plural pa·tres·fa·mil·i·as \ˌpā-ˌtrēz-, ˌpä-ˌtrās-\

Full Definition of PATERFAMILIAS

: the male head of a household

: the father of a family

: a man who originates or is a leading figure in something (as a movement, discipline, or enterprise)

See paterfamilias defined for English-language learners

Middle English, from Latin, from pater father + familias, archaic genitive of familia household — more at father, family

First Known Use: 15th century

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