Definitions for patriarch

• Definition
• Anagrams (291)

patriarch pa·tri·arch

Spelling: [pey-tree-ahrk]

IPA: /ˈpeɪ triˌɑrk/

Patriarch is a 9 letter English word. It's valid Scrabble word worth 16 points. It's valid Words with friends word worth 17 points.

You can make 291 anagrams from letters in patriarch (aachiprrt).

Definitions for patriarch

noun

1. the male head of a family or tribal line.
2. a person regarded as the father or founder of an order, class, etc.
3. any of the very early Biblical personages regarded as the fathers of the human race, comprising those from Adam to Noah (antediluvian patriarchs) and those between the Deluge and the birth of Abraham.
4. any of the three great progenitors of the Israelites: Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob.
5. any of the sons of Jacob ((the twelve patriarchs),) from whom the tribes of Israel were descended.
6. (in the early Christian church) any of the bishops of any of the ancient sees of Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, Jerusalem, or Rome having authority over other bishops.
7. Greek Orthodox Church. the head of any of the ancient sees of Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, or Jerusalem, and sometimes including other sees of chief cities. Compare ecumenical patriarch.
8. the head of certain other churches in the East, as the Coptic, Nestorian, and Armenian churches, that are not in full communication with the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople.
9. Roman Catholic Church. the pope as patriarch of the West. any of certain bishops of the Eastern rites, as a head of an Eastern rite or a bishop of one of the ancient sees. the head of a Uniate church.
10. Mormon Church. any of the high dignitaries who pronounce the blessing of the church; Evangelist.
11. one of the elders or leading older members of a community.
12. a venerable old man.

Origin of patriarch

1175-1225; Middle English patriark(e) (Old French) Late Latin patriarcha Late Greek patriárchēs high-ranking bishop, Greek: family head equivalent to patri(á) family, derivative of patḗr

Examples for patriarch

In Moscow, patriarch Kirill addressed an audience that included Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The patriarch insisted on his staying to dinner, and Flora signalled 'Yes!'

Uncas took the scout by the hand, and led him to the feet of the patriarch.

The patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church even opined that same-sex marriage is a sign of the apocalypse.

They wish to celebrate the patriarch's birthday by a festival.

"Fine day," chirped the patriarch in well-meant friendliness.

The patriarch, Josiah, had fought with the 42nd Wisconsin Infantry, marching all the way to Kentucky to battle the Confederates.

To turn the title of a classic Gabriel García Márquez on its head, this will be “The Spring of the patriarch.”

Marston declared that women should rule the world but remained a patriarch.

patriarch was the name which many people delighted to give him.