patrician

Meanings

Noun

• 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.
• A person of high birth; a nobleman.
• One familiar with the works of the Christian Fathers; one versed in patristic lore or life.

Adjective

• Of or pertaining to the Roman patres ("fathers") or senators, or patricians.
• Of, pertaining to, or appropriate to, a person of high birth; noble; not plebeian.

Origin

• Borrowed from Middle French patricien, from Latin patricius, derived from patrēs cōnscrīptī.