Patresfamilias

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The heads of families or households in ancient Rome, holding authority and responsibility over their family members
2. A term referring to the male leaders of families in Roman society, who had legal rights and duties towards their dependents
3. Describing the patriarchs of households in ancient Italy, particularly those with formal power and social status within their communities

Etymology: "Patresfamilias" is the plural of "paterfamilias," so it is the form that refers to more than one male head of a household. The singular is itself a Latin phrase, built from "pater" ("father") and "familias," an archaic genitive of "familia," meaning "family" or "household." Literally, it means "father of the family" or "father of the household." Roman law gave the paterfamilias extraordinary authority: he was the legal head of everyone under his roof, including adult children, slaves and dependants, and the family's property was in his name. The English term entered the language in the late Middle Ages, around 1425 to 1475, and it kept its Latin shape, including the old genitive "familias" rather than a modern English form.