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paterfamiliases

 - 2 dictionary results

pa⋅ter⋅fa⋅mil⋅i⋅as

  [pey-ter-fuh-mil-ee-uhs, pah-, pat-er-]
Use paterfamiliases 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-uhs, pah-, pa-] for 2.
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.
Origin:
1425–75; late ME < L: lit., father (i.e., master) of the household, with archaic genitive form familiās of familia; see family

Related forms:
pa⋅ter⋅fa⋅mil⋅iar, adjective
pa⋅ter⋅fa⋅mil⋅iar⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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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, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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