patriarchal

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective characteristic of a form of social organization in which the male is the family head and title is traced through the male line
  2. adjective relating to or characteristic of a man who is older or higher in rank

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin patriarchālis, from patriarcha + -ālis. Sychronically analyzable as patriarch + -al.

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