Definition: A patriarch is a male leader or head of a family, group, or tribe. In a broader sense, it can also refer to a man who is the oldest or most venerable in a group, or a founding father or senior figure within a field of knowledge. In certain religions, a patriarch is a high-ranking bishop or a title given to the bishops of some Christian churches in the early church.
Etymology and Origin: The word “patriarch” comes from the Greek words “πατήρ” (patēr), meaning “father,” and “ἄρχων” (archōn), meaning “ruler” or “leader.” The term entered English in the late Middle Ages, originally used to refer to one of the biblical figures regarded as fathers of the human race, especially Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and later to denote bishops of the highest rank in the early Christian church.
