noun

1. in ancient Rome
   1. a member of any of the ancient Roman citizen families
   2. later, a member of the nobility
   3. a member of a class of honorary nobility of the later Empire
   4. a chief administrator in the Roman provinces in Africa and Italy
2. a person of high rank in some medieval Italian republics and in certain free cities of the German Empire
3. any person of high social rank; aristocrat

Etymology: ME patricion < MFr patricien < L patricius < patres, senators, lit., fathers, pl. of pater, father

adjective

1. of or characteristic of patricians
2. noble; aristocratic

Etymology: MFr patricien