n. [ L. mater mother + -arch. ] 1. The mother and ruler of a family or of her descendants; a ruler by maternal right. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A woman who dominates or is the most important member of a group or organization; in businesses, often the founder or owner of the largest interest. [ PJC ]

3. A venerated old woman. [ PJC ]

a. Of or pertaining to a matriarch; governed by a matriarch or matriarchs; as, a matriarchal society. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. The office or jurisdiction of a matriarch; a matriarchal form of government. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. patriarche, L. patriarcha, Gr. paria`rchhs, fr. paria` lineage, especially on the father's side, race; path`r father + 'archo`s a leader, chief, fr. 'a`rchein to lead, rule. See Father, Archaic. ] 1. The father and ruler of a family; one who governs his family or descendants by paternal right; -- usually applied to heads of families in ancient history, especially in Biblical and Jewish history to those who lived before the time of Moses. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (R. C. Ch. & Gr. Ch.) A dignitary superior to the order of archbishops; as, the patriarch of Constantinople, of Alexandria, or of Antioch. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A venerable old man; an elder. Also used figuratively. [ 1913 Webster ]

The patriarch hoary, the sage of his kith and the hamlet. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

The monarch oak, the partiarch of trees. Dryde. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. patriarcal. ] 1. Of or pertaining to a patriarch or to patriarchs; possessed by, or subject to, patriarchs; as, patriarchal authority or jurisdiction; a patriarchal see; a patriarchal church. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Characteristic of a patriarch; venerable. [ 1913 Webster ]

About whose patriarchal knee
Late the little children clung. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Ethnol.) Having an organization of society and government in which the head of the family exercises authority over all its generations. [ 1913 Webster ]

Patriarchal cross (Her.), a cross, the shaft of which is intersected by two transverse beams, the upper one being the smaller. See Illust. (2) of Cross. --
Patriarchal dispensation, the divine dispensation under which the patriarchs lived before the law given by Moses. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. patriarcat. ] 1. The office, dignity, or jurisdiction of a patriarch. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The residence of an ecclesiastic patriarch. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Ethnol.) A patriarchal form of government or society. See Patriarchal, a., 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The office or jurisdiction of a patriarch; patriarchate. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. patriarchicus, Gr. patriarchiko`s. ] Patriarchal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Government by a patriarch, or the head of a family. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A patriarchate. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. patriarchi`a. ] 1. The jurisdiction of a patriarch; patriarchship. Brerewood. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Government by a patriarch; patriarchism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Triarchies [ Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; (see Tri-) + &unr_; to rule. ] Government by three persons; a triumvirate; also, a country under three rulers. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]