patrician

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A member of any of the families constituting the populus Romanus, or body of Roman…

   A member of any of the families constituting the populus Romanus, or body of Roman citizens, before the development of the plebeian order; later, one who, by right of birth or by special privilege conferred, belonged to the senior class of Romans, who, with certain property, had by right a seat in the Roman Senate.

   • Noble Patricians, Patrons of my right, / Defend the iuſtice of my Cauſe with Armes.
2. 2

   A person of high birth

   A person of high birth; a nobleman.

   • The emperor elevated several loyal families to the status of patricians.
3. 3

   One familiar with the works of the Christian Fathers

   One familiar with the works of the Christian Fathers; one versed in patristic lore or life.

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   1. 4

      Of or pertaining to the Roman patres (“fathers”) or senators, or patricians.

      • […] I ſee Th’ Inſulting Tyrant prancing o’er the Field Strow’d with Rome’s Citizens, and drench’d in Slaughter, His Horſe’s Hoofs wet with Patrician Blood.
      • The cognomen was first used in patrician families, who were distinguished from the plebeians by their three names.
   2. 5

      Of or pertaining to a person of high birth

      Of or pertaining to a person of high birth; noble; not plebeian; aristocratic.

      • born in the patrician file of society
   3. 6

      Characteristic of or appropriate to a person of high birth

      Characteristic of or appropriate to a person of high birth; classy.

      • Hanks' taste in projects and directors is undoubtedly patrician and with a few exceptions like 1993's Philadelphia, the first mainstream film about the Aids crisis, rarely provocative
   4. 7

      Politically active to help people in lower classes, especially in a patronizing or…

      Politically active to help people in lower classes, especially in a patronizing or condescending way.

      • It will speed the shrivelling of the patrician “one nation” Tories, who tried to curb the extremes of Thatcherism and ended by providing its veils.
   5. 8

      Of or relating to Saint Patrick.

The neighborhood

• neighborfather
• neighborpatriarch
• neighborPatricia
• neighborpatron
• neighborpattern
• neighbormatrician