DictionaryRoot: patria
Greek

patria

family, clan

1 / 1
An elderly South Asian grandfather sits at the head of a multigenerational family table.
noun

patriarch

PAY-tree-ark/ˈpeɪtriɑːrk/

A father or respected older man who leads a family or group.

Etymology

The pieces combine “family or clan” with “to rule,” making a patriarch a family’s ruling head. The family word itself derives from “father,” linking paternal status with authority over the group.

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