paterfamilias
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˌpætərˈfæmɪliəs/
- Literature
:
paterfamilias
- The paterfamilias was respected by all members of the family for his wisdom and leadership.
Examples
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A mutual but discreet feeling leads them to a love affair that will gradually face all kinds of moral constraints because of his duties as a paterfamilias.
Academic text (1998) -
Larry, the turkey is traditionally carved by the paterfamilias.
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Apart from the special case of the paterfamilias, I would argue that no one has a natural right to punish others.
Academic text (2003) -
I'm the paterfamilias.
-
Don Diego is all that Alonso Quijano might have been but was not: a successful paterfamilias, a man of sound mind and sound choices.
Academic text (1993) -
In front of my brothers, I stress his liberal beliefs, his education, the spiritual battles of the paterfamilias, and the clash between the problems of freedom and discipline in raising the children.
Fiction book (1998) -
A patrilineal system works by importing women into a household from outside to bear children for its adult males, one of whom will in time become the new paterfamilias and perpetuate the process.
Academic text (1995) -
Michael Zuckert is the paterfamilias of Midwest Straussianism, and Catherine Zuckert is the materfamilias.
Blog text (7) -
As the paterfamilias, he made all the important decisions for his family.
-
In ancient Rome, the role of the paterfamilias was crucial for maintaining order in the household.
Synonyms
20
6.7
A man who leads a family or group with authority
A father who is the main adult in a family
How Authoritative
20
6.7
- Literature
1
9.9
3
2.8
∞
1.0
∞
1.0
645
1.0
Surface Forms
Etymology
Paterfamilias comes from the Latin parts pater 'father' and familias 'family' or 'household'. In ancient Rome it named the father who had power over the whole household, and you can see the same pater in English words like 'paternal' and 'paternity', which helps remember it means the male head of a family.