patrician

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a member of the hereditary upper class in ancient Rome

   The patrician belonged to one of Rome's oldest aristocratic families.

2. 2
   noun

   a member of a socially privileged or aristocratic class

   The reform challenged the authority of the city's wealthy patricians.

3. 3
   adj

   belonging to or characteristic of an aristocratic or socially refined class

   His patrician manner reflected a life of inherited privilege.

Simplified etymology

Patrician, recorded in late Middle English, comes from a Latin term associated with the aristocratic class regarded as the “fathers” of their country. It is ultimately based on Latin pater, “father.”

Borrowed through French patricien from Latin patricius, 'of the patres or fathers.' In ancient Rome the patricians were members of the hereditary ruling class associated with the patres, the founding senatorial families.

Topics

External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary