— paterfamiliar , adj. — paterfamiliarly , adv.
/pay'teuhr feuh mil"ee euhs, pah'-, pat'euhr-/ , n. , pl. paterfamiliases for 1, patresfamilias /pay'treez feuh mil"ee euhs, pah'-, pa'-/ for 2.
1. the male head of a household or family, usually the father.
2. Roman Law.
a. the head of the Roman family; a juridical entity who holds the patria potestas.
b. a person who is not under the patria potestas of another.
[ 1425-75; late ME familias of familia; see FAMILY ]