paterfamilias
Use Paterfamilias in a sentence
noun, plural pa·ter·fa·mil·i·as·es for 1, pa·tres·fa·mil·i·as [pey-treez-fuh-mil-ee-uh
s, pa] .
[pey-treez-fuh-mil-ee-uhs, pa] . 1.
the male head of a household or family, usually the father.
2.
Roman Law.
a.
the head of the Roman family; a juridical entity who holds the patria potestas.
b.
a person who is not under the patria potestas of another.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To paterfamilias
Collins
World English Dictionary
paterfamilias (ˌpeɪtəfəˈmɪlɪˌæs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n , pl patresfamilias | |
| 1. | the male head of a household |
| 2. | Roman law |
| a. the head of a household having authority over its members | |
| b. the parental or other authority of another person | |
| [Latin: father of the family] | |
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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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Paterfamilias
has a plethora of syllables.
So is dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. Does it mean:
| a white, crystalline, water-insoluble solid, C14H9Cl5, usually derived from chloral by reaction with chlorobenzene in the presence of fuming sulfuric acid: used as an insecticide and as a scabicide and pediculicide: agricultural use prohibited in the U.S. |
| opposition to the withdrawal of state support or recognition from an established church, esp. the Anglican Church in 19th-century England. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
paterfamilias
c.1430, from L., lit. "master of a house, head of a family," from pater "father" + familias, old gen. of familia "family."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
The moody father is transformed overnight into the benevolent paterfamilias.
Paterfamilias said this long ago, and in some instances he has vain-ly been trying to join them ever since.
But here it is-ready to be declaimed from a lectern by the paterfamilias rather than held on your lap.
Paterfamilias stop- ped a moment, looked about him inquiringly, and seeing what he thought to be his enemy made a second dash.
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