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paterfamilias Definition

pater·fa·milias (pāt′ər fə mil′ē əs, pät′-)

noun pl. pa′tres′·fa·mil′iaspā′trēz′-

the father of a family; male head of a household

Etymology: L

paterfamilias Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • Victorian: Perhaps, like me, you're a high-powered executive, Army officer, judge, or simply a stern, Victorian paterfamilias.

Noun used with modifier

  • bonus: If the administration of the assets of the foundation lacked the diligence of a bonus paterfamilias.
paterfamilias Quotes

Whenever people have asked me which among my novels is my favourite I have always evaded a direct answer, being strongly of the mind that in sheer invidiousness that question is fully comparable to asking a man to list his children in the order in which he loves them. A paterfamilias worth his salt will, if he must, speak about the peculiar attractiveness of each child.

—Achebe, Chinua originally Albert Chinualumogo