Patrician
adj, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Definitions
- 1 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. Ancient-Rome
"Noble Patricians, Patrons of my right, / Defend the iuſtice of my Cauſe with Armes."
- 2 a member of the aristocracy wordnet
- 3 A person of high birth; a nobleman.
- 4 a person of refined upbringing and manners wordnet
- 5 One familiar with the works of the Christian Fathers; one versed in patristic lore or life.
- 1 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."
- 2 Of or relating to Saint Patrick. not-comparable
- 3 Of or pertaining to a person of high birth; noble; not plebeian; aristocratic.
"born in the patrician file of society"
- 4 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"
- 5 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."
- 1 belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy wordnet
- 2 befitting a person of noble origin wordnet
Example
More examples"Noble Patricians, Patrons of my right, / Defend the iuſtice of my Cauſe with Armes."
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French patricien, from Latin patricius, derived from patrēs cōnscrīptī (“Roman senators”).