Pateresfamilias

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Paterfamilias \Pa`ter*fa*mil`i*as\, n.; pl. {Pateresfamilias}.
     [L., fr. pater father + familias, gen. of familia family.]
     (Rom. Law)
     The head of a family; in a large sense, the proprietor of an
     estate; one who is his own master.
     [1913 Webster]