patresfamilias

noun

1. a plural of paterfamilias.

noun, plural pa·ter·fa·mil·i·as·es for 1, pa·tres·fa·mil·i·as [pey-treez-fuh–mil-ee-uh s, pah-, pa-] /ˌpeɪ triz fəˈmɪl i əs, ˌpɑ-, ˌpæ-/ for 2.

1. the male head of a household or family, usually the father.
2. Roman Law.
   1. the head of the Roman family; a juridical entity who holds the patria potestas.
   2. a person who is not under the patria potestas of another.

noun plural patresfamilias (ˌpɑːtreɪzfəˈmɪlɪˌæs)

1. the male head of a household
2. Roman law
   1. the head of a household having authority over its members
   2. the parental or other authority of another person

n.early 15c., from Latin pater familias “master of a house, head of a family,” from pater “father” (see father (n.)) + familias, old genitive of familia “family” (see family).