Word Study
matriarch
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun matriarch has 2 senses
- matriarch(n = noun.person) materfamilias - a female head of a family or tribe; Array is a kind of head of household, adult female, woman
- matriarch(n = noun.person) Array - a feisty older woman with a big bosom (as drawn in cartoons); Array is a kind of adult female, woman
CIDE DICTIONARY
matriarch, n. [L. mater mother + -arch.].
- The mother and ruler of a family or of her descendants; a ruler by maternal right. [1913 Webster]
- 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]
- A venerated old woman. [PJC]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
matriarch, n. a woman who is the head of a family or tribe.
Derivative
matriarchal adj.
Etymology
L mater mother, on the false analogy of PATRIARCH
THESAURUS
matriarch
Methuselah, abbess, antediluvian, antique, back number, chatelaine, conservative, dad, dam, dame, dodo, dowager, elder, first lady, fogy, fossil, foster mother, fud, fuddy-duddy, genetrix, goodwife, governess, grande dame, granny, great lady, has-been, homemaker, housewife, longhair, ma, madam, mam, mama, mammy, mater, materfamilias, maternal ancestor, matron, mid-Victorian, mistress, mom, mommy, mossback, mother, mother superior, mummy, old believer, old crock, old dodo, old fogy, old liner, old man, old poop, old woman, old-timer, patriarch, pop, pops, reactionary, regular old fogy, relic, square, starets, stepmother, the old woman, traditionalist
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