pa ‧ tri ‧ arch /ˈpeɪtriɑːk $ -ɑːrk/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1100-1200 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: patriarche , from Late Latin , from Greek , from patria 'family' + -arches 'ruler' ]
1 . an old man who is respected as the head of a family or tribe ⇨ ↑ matriarch
2 . a ↑ bishop in the early Christian church
3 . a ↑ bishop of the Orthodox Christian churches who is very high in rank