patriarchate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the jurisdiction of a patriarch
  2. noun a form of social organization in which a male is the family head and title is traced through the male line
    patriarchy.

WordNet

Pa`tri*ar"chate noun
Etymology
Cf. F. patriarcat.
Definitions
  1. The office, dignity, or jurisdiction of a patriarch. Jer. Taylor.
  2. The residence of an ecclesiastic patriarch.
  3. (Ethnol.) A patriarchal form of government or society. See Patriarchal, a., 3.

Webster 1913