| patriarchate | 1. The office, dignity, or jurisdiction of a patriarch. 2. The residence of an ecclesiastic patriarch. 3. <ethnology> A patriarchal form of government or society. See Patriarchal. Origin: Cf. F. Patriarcat. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| patrician | 1. 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) Origin: L. Patricius, fr. Patres fathers or senators, pl. Of pater: cf. F. Patricien. See Paternal. 1. 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. Origin: L. Patricius: cf. F. Patricien. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| patricide | 1. The killing of one's father. 2. One who commits such an act. See: parricide. Compare: matricide. Origin: L. Pater, father, + caedo, to kill (05 Mar 2000) |
| Patrick's test | A test to determine the presence or absence of sacroiliac disease; with the patient supine, the hip and knee are flexed and the external malleolus is placed above the patella of the opposite leg; this can ordinarily be done without pain, but, on depressing the knee, pain is promptly elicited in sacroiliac disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Patrick, Hugh | <person> U.S. Neurologist, 1860-1938. See: Patrick's test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| patrilineal | Related to descent through the male line; inheritance of the Y chromosome is exclusively patrilineal. Origin: L. Pater, father, + linea, line (05 Mar 2000) |
| patriotic | Inspired by patriotism; actuated by love of one's country; zealously and unselfishly devoted to the service of one's country; as, a patriotic statesman, vigilance. Origin: Cf. F. Patriotique, Gr. Belonging to a fellow-countryman. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| patristical | Of or pertaining to the Fathers of the Christian church. "The voluminous editor of Jerome anf of tons of patristic theology." (I. Taylor) Origin: F. Patristique. See Paternal. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| patristics | That departnent of historical theology which treats of the lives and doctrines of the Fathers of the church. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| patron | Doing the duty of a patron; giving aid or protection; tutelary. Patron saint, a saint regarded as the peculiar protector of a country, community, church, profession, etc, or of an individual. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| patroness | A female patron or helper. "Night, best patroness of grief." (Milton) Origin: Cf. F. Patronnesse. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| patronize | 1. To act as patron toward; to support; to countenance; to favor; to aid. "The idea has been patronised by two States only." (A. Hamilton) 2. To trade with customarily; to frequent as a customer. 3. To assume the air of a patron, or of a superior and protector, toward; used in an unfavorable sense; as, to patronize one's equals. Origin: Patronised; Patronizing. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| patronomayology | <study> That branch of knowledge which deals with personal names and their origin; the study of patronymics. Origin: Gr, a father + E. Onomatology. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| patten | 1. A clog or sole of wood, usually supported by an iron ring, worn to raise the feet from the wet or the mud. "The patten now supports each frugal dame." (Gay) 2. A stilt. Origin: F. Patin a high-heeled shoe, fr. Patte paw, foot. Cf. Panton, Patte. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| patter | 1. To strike with a quick succession of slight, sharp sounds; as, pattering rain or hail; pattering feet. "The stealing shower is scarce to patter heard." (Thomson) 2. To mutter; to mumble; as, to patter with the lips. [In this sense, and in the following, perh. From paternoster. 3. To talk glibly; to chatter; to harangue. "I've gone out and pattered to get money." (Mayhew) Origin: Freq. Of pat to strike gently. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |