patriciate

1 9.9

A group of old, rich families with special social and political power in a city

noun
/pəˈtrɪʃiˌeɪt/

Formal

: patriciado

In many societies, the patriciate represents a privileged class with substantial hereditary rights.

Examples

Capitalist entrepreneurs, the urban "patriciate" and even the elites of "certain military, academic and even trade union milieux" (MCM, 81) represent a kind of "nobility."

Academic text (2001)
The patriciate held significant power in ancient Rome, influencing political decisions.
Throughout history, the patriciate has often been involved in governance and land ownership.

Synonyms

aristocracy

vspatriciate

23 7.2

A small group of rich, powerful families who inherit titles and wealth

is narrower meaning a historic hereditary ruling group in specific societies

noblesse

vspatriciate

Formal

3 9.9

A class of people born into high social position who have special rights

focuses on a hereditary collective elite group in societies rather than status alone

How Aristocratic

nobility

17 6.2

patriciate

Formal

1 9.9

gentry

9 8.4

middle class

481 2.0

working class

116 2.8

Surface Forms

patriciate singular

patriciates plural

Morphology

patriciate = patrician (semi-transparent) = patrician + ate

Built from 'patrician' + the suffix '-ate' meaning a body or collective; the collective use of '-ate' is not highly productive and may be unfamiliar to average learners.

Etymology

Patriciate comes from the Latin root pater 'father' and the old word patricius meaning 'of the father' or 'noble'. So the patriciate is the group of leading 'father' families — the ruling class whose power was passed down in families.