ˈpā.trēˌärk, -ˌȧk noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English patriark, from Old French patriarche, from Late Latin patriarcha, from Greek patriarchēs, from patria lineage, descent, clan, family (from patr-, patēr father) + -archēs -arch — more at father
1.
a. : one of the Scriptural fathers of the human race or of the Hebrew people ; specifically : one of a group comprising Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve sons of Jacob
b. : a man regarded as father or founder (as of a race, science, religion, or class of men)
became one of the great cattlemen of the West, and sheepmen of a later day referred to him as the patriarch of their industry — H.J.Peterson
c.
(1) : the oldest member or representative of a group
a bullfrog, the patriarch of the swamp, blew suddenly on his mighty tuba, “jug-o-rum” — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union
the cypress of the eastern river courses, growing to heights of 150 feet or more, is the patriarch of native trees, going back to the time of the dinosaur — American Guide Series: Texas
(2) : a venerable old man : elder , veteran
was a whiskered patriarch , spry for his age — Frank Sullivan
consultations with the party patriarchs — W.S.White
2.
a.
(1) : any of the bishops of the ancient or Eastern Orthodox sees of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem or the ancient and Western see of Rome with authority over other bishops
(2) : the spiritual head of any of various Eastern churches either autocephalous (as the Russian Orthodox Church) or no longer in communion with the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople and the Eastern Orthodox Church (as the Syrian or Coptic churches)
b. : an ecclesiastical dignitary next in rank to the pope:
(1) : a Roman Catholic bishop with purely titular or with metropolitan jurisdiction
(2) : the active ecclesiastical head of a Uniate body
3. : the head or president of the Sanhedrin in Palestine ; sometimes : the head of the Jewish college at Babylon
4. : one of the Melchizedek priesthood in the Mormon church empowered to perform the ordinances of the church and to invoke and pronounce blessings within a stake or other prescribed jurisdiction
5. : a dark reddish purple that is bluer and stronger than amaranth, auricula purple, or raisin purple