paterfamilias

pa·ter·fa·mil·i·as

noun
\ˌpa-tər-fə-ˈmi-lē-əs, ˌpä-, ˌpā-\

plural pa·tres·fa·mil·i·as\ˌpā-ˌtrēz-, ˌpä-ˌtrās-\

Definition of PATERFAMILIAS

1

: the male head of a household

2

: the father of a family

3

: a man who originates or is a leading figure in something (as a movement, discipline, or enterprise)

Origin of PATERFAMILIAS

Middle English, from Latin, from pater father + familias, archaic genitive of familia household — more at father, family

First Known Use: 15th century

Rhymes with PATERFAMILIAS

materfamilias