ma·tri·arch

[mey-tree-ahrk]
noun
1.
the female head of a family or tribal line.
2.
a woman who is the founder or dominant member of a community or group.
3.
a venerable old woman.

Origin:
1600–10; matri- + -arch

ma·tri·ar·chal, ma·tri·ar·chic, adjective
ma·tri·ar·chal·ism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
matriarch (ˈmeɪtrɪˌɑːk) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  a woman who dominates an organization, community, etc
2.  the female head of a tribe or family, esp in a matriarchy
3.  a very old or venerable woman
 
[C17: from matri- + -arch, by false analogy with patriarch]
 
'matriarchal
 
adj
 
'matriarchic
 
adj
 
matri'archalism
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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00:10
Matriarch is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

matriarch
c.1600, from matri-, comb. form of L. mater (gen. matris) "mother" (see mother) + -arch, abstracted from patriarch.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
At that, with manic inspiration, the ageless matriarch pounced on the hat and
  plopped it on her cheesy gray wig.
The matriarch strode over with a big smile and shook our hands and asked us to
  tea.
Closure comes in the case of matriarch whooping crane shooting because of a
  citizen tip.
There is even a book from the matriarch of the family.
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