PATERFAMILIAS

paterfamilias (pay-t[schwa]r-f[schwa]-mil-ee-[schwa]s or pah-t[schwa]r-), n. [Latin] Roman law. The male head of a family or household; the senior ascendant male; esp., one invested with potestas (power) over another. — Also termed homo sui juris. See patria potestas under POTESTAS.