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What is "paterfamilias"

Crossword clues for paterfamilias

paterfamilias
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
paterfamilias
noun
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ After six wives and eight children, he emerges as a smiling paterfamilias.
▪ As a paterfamilias, Charlemagne did well.
▪ In days to come as a staid married man and paterfamilias I shall remember my darling Lily with affection ....
▪ Mat, winsome, handsome, pipe-smoking paterfamilias, introduced us to the fishermen at the table.
▪ Then they became part of the family-Ellwood as paterfamilias.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Paterfamilias

Paterfamilias \Pa`ter*fa*mil`i*as\, n.; pl. Pateresfamilias. (Rom. Law) The head of a family; in a large sense, the proprietor of an estate; one who is his own master.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
paterfamilias

early 15c., from Latin pater familias "master of a house, head of a family," from pater "father" (see father (n.)) + familias, old genitive of familia "family" (see family).

Wiktionary
paterfamilias

n. A man who is the head of a household, family or tribe.

WordNet
paterfamilias

  1. n. the male head of family or tribe [syn: patriarch]

  2. [also: patresfamilias (pl)]

Usage examples of "paterfamilias".

As a good citizen he was an admirable paterfamilias, for what greater proof could he give of his love of country than by presenting it with worthy subjects in his children, and such subjects result from a good education.

Now this is an intolerable thing, although the virtuous and unattackable paterfamilias encourages it.

As a good citizen he was an admirable paterfamilias, for what greater proof could he give of his love of country than by presenting it with worthy subjects in his children, and such subjects result from a good education.

In Cleveland the paterfamilias of the Cardia Nostra was Big Amos, a don somewhat younger than Big Maxie.

So that you could cock a snook at the arrogant male, the Victorian paterfamilias?

If a paterfamilias commits a tort, and then is adopted or becomes a slave, a noxal action now lies against his master in place of the direct one against himself as the wrong-doer.