(historical) The legal power and rights of a Roman father over his children and descendants by virtue of his paternity.

(law) The government authority to act as the parent of a child or individual to protect them from abusive or negligent parents, legal guardian, or caretaker.

(Christianity) The highest form of bishop, in the ancient world having authority over other bishops in the province but now generally as an honorary title; in Roman Catholicism, considered a bishop second only to the Pope in rank.

(Canada, transitive) To assume control of (a governmental power) from a former mother country.

Characteristic of a patriarch; venerable. / Relating to a system run by males, rather than females; relating to a patriarchy.

(anthropology, history) A social system in which the father is head of the household, having authority over women and children, and in which lineage is traced through the male line.

(Christianity) The term of office of a Christian patriarch. / The office or ecclesial jurisdiction of such a patriarch. / The office-space occupied by a patriarch and his staff.

(Canada) The transfer of a governmental power from a former mother country to a newly independent one.

plural of patriarchate

plural of patriation