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n. 1. A person of refined upbringing, manners, and tastes. 2. A member of an aristocracy; an aristocrat. 3. A member of one of the noble families of the ancient Roman Republic, which before the third century BC had exclusive rights to the Senate and the magistracies. 4. Used as a title for members of a class of honorary nobility appointed by the Byzantine emperors. 5. A member of the hereditary ruling class in the medieval free cities of Italy and Germany. [Middle English patricion, from Old French patricien, from Latin patricius, from patrēs (cōnscrīptī), enrolled fathers, senators, pl. of pater, patr-, father; see pəter- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] pa·trician adj. |
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