Main Entry:: pa·tri·arch
Pronunciation:: \ˈpā-trē-ˌärk\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Middle English patriarche, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin patriarcha, from Greek patriarchēs, from patria lineage (from patr-, patēr father) + -archēs -arch — more at father
Date:: 13th century

1 a: one of the scriptural fathers of the human race or of the Hebrew people b: a man who is father or founder c (1): the oldest member or representative of a group (2): a venerable old man d: a man who is head of a patriarchy2 a: any of the bishops of the ancient or Eastern Orthodox sees of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem or the ancient and Western see of Rome with authority over other bishops b: the head of any of various Eastern churches c: a Roman Catholic bishop next in rank to the pope with purely titular or with metropolitan jurisdiction3: a Mormon of the Melchizedek priesthood empowered to perform the ordinances of the church and pronounce blessings within a stake or prescribed jurisdiction

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