[ ˌmeɪtəfə'mɪlɪas ]
■ noun ( plural matresfamilias ˌmeɪti:z- ) the female head of a family or household.
Origin
L., from mater 'mother' + familias , old genitive form of familia 'family'.
[ ˌmeɪtəfə'mɪlɪas ]
■ noun ( plural matresfamilias ˌmeɪti:z- ) the female head of a family or household.
Origin
L., from mater 'mother' + familias , old genitive form of familia 'family'.
Concise Oxford English vocab. Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка. 2004