Noun

(en noun)

(Christianity) The highest form of bishop, in the ancient world having authority over other bishops in the province but now generally as an honorary title; in Roman Catholicism, considered a bishop second only to the Pope in rank.

In Biblical contexts, a male leader of a family, tribe or ethnic group, especially one of the twelve sons of Jacob (considered to have created the twelve tribes of Israel) or (in plural) Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

* 1526 , (William Tyndale), trans. Bible , Acts II:

Men and brethren, lett me frely speake unto you of the patriarke David: For he is both deed and buryed, and his sepulcre remayneth with us unto this daye.

A founder of a political or religious movement, an organization or an enterprise.

An old leader of a village or community.

* 1819 , ”:

The opinions of this junto were completely controlled by Nicholas Vedder, a patriarch of the village, and landlord of the inn, at the door of which he took his seat from morning to night, just moving sufficiently to

The male head of a tribal line or family.

Noun

(en noun)

A (generally human) male who begets a child.

* Bible, Proverbs x. 1

A wise son maketh a glad father .

*

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A male ancestor more remote than a parent; a progenitor; especially, a first ancestor.

* Bible, 1 Kings ii. 10

David slept with his fathers .

* Bible, Rom. iv. 16

Abraham, who is the father of us all

* Shakespeare

Bless you, good father friar!

A person who plays the role of a father in some way.

* Bible, Job xxix. 16

I was a father to the poor.

* Bible, Genesis xiv. 8

He hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house.

The founder of a discipline or science.

A senator of Ancient Rome.