materfamilias
- noun
- /ˌmeɪtərfəˈmɪliəs/
- Formal
:
matriarca
- As the materfamilias, she made important decisions for the well-being of her family.
Examples
-
On one level, the story revolves around a family of three generations: the "materfamilias" Helena and her elderly friend Jacobi, her children (particularly Oscar and his wife Emily) and their spouses, and her grandchildren (Fanny and Alexander).
Academic text (2009) -
"The materfamilias hates my guts."
Fiction book (1996) -
Michael Zuckert is the paterfamilias of Midwest Straussianism, and Catherine Zuckert is the materfamilias.
Blog text (7) -
Using my body not as a model but as materfamilias, I sculpt and paint snakes, spirals, stars, oceans, omphalos—the earth's navel.
Fiction book (2000) -
In many cultures, the materfamilias is expected to manage the household and take care of the family.
-
The materfamilias of the family organized a reunion to strengthen their bonds.
Synonyms
18
6.7
A woman who leads a family or clan
9
3.9
A woman who runs the home and cares for the family
1
3.7
A wife who runs the household while her husband earns money
Surface Forms
Etymology
Materfamilias comes from Latin parts mater ('mother') and familias ('of the family'), so it literally means 'mother of the family'. That's why a materfamilias is the female head of a household.