patrician Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a person of refined upbringing and manners
  2. noun a member of the aristocracy
    aristocrat; blue blood.
  3. adjective satellite befitting a person of noble origin
    • a patrician nose
  4. adjective satellite belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy
    blue; blue-blooded; gentle; aristocratic; aristocratical.
    • an aristocratic family
    • aristocratic Bostonians
    • aristocratic government
    • a blue family
    • blue blood
    • the blue-blooded aristocracy
    • of gentle blood
    • patrician landholders of the American South
    • aristocratic bearing
    • aristocratic features
    • patrician tastes

WordNet

Pa*tri"cian adjective
Etymology
L. patricius, fr. patres fathers or senators, pl. of pater: cf. F. patricien. See Paternal.
Definitions
  1. (Rom. Antiq.) 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.
Pa*tri"cian noun
Etymology
L. patricius: cf. F. patricien.
Definitions
  1. (Rom. Antiq.) 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. R. Colridge.

Webster 1913