Hypertext Webster Gateway: "patrician"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Patrician \Pa*tri"cian\, n. [L. patricius: cf. F. patricien.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.) Originally, a member of any of the families
constituting the populus Romanus, or body of Roman
citizens, before the development of the plebeian order;
later, one who, by right of birth or by special privilege
conferred, belonged to the nobility.
2. A person of high birth; a nobleman.
3. One familiar with the works of the Christian Fathers; one
versed in patristic lore. [R.] --Colridge.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Patrician \Pa*tri"cian\, a. [L. patricius, fr. patres fathers or
senators, pl. of pater: cf. F. patricien. See {Paternal}.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.) Of or pertaining to the Roman patres
(fathers) or senators, or patricians.
2. Of, pertaining to, or appropriate to, a person of high
birth; noble; not plebeian.
Born in the patrician file of society. --Sir W.
Scott.
His horse's hoofs wet with patrician blood.
--Addison.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
patrician
adj 1: of the hereditary aristocracy or ruling class of ancient
Rome or medieval Europe; of honorary nobility in the
Byzantine empire [ant: {plebeian}, {proletarian}]
2: belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or
aristocracy; "an aristocratic family"; "aristocratic
Bostonians"; "aristocratic government"; "a blue family";
"blue blood"; "the blue-blooded aristocracy"; "of gentle
blood"; "patrician landholders of the American South";
"aristocratic bearing"; "aristocratic features";
"patrician tastes" [syn: {aristocratic}, {aristocratical},
{blue}, {blue-blooded}, {gentle}]
n 1: a person of refined upbringing and manners
2: a member of the aristocracy [syn: {aristocrat}, {blue blood}]
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents;
see the Webster Gateway FAQ,
and also the Back-end/database links and credits.