patriarch

n. 1 the male head of a family or tribe. an older man who is powerful within a family or organization. a founder. 2 a biblical figure regarded as a father of the human race, especially Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their forefathers, or the sons of Jacob. 3 a bishop on one of the most ancient Christian sees (Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, Jerusalem, and formerly Rome). the head of an autocephalous Orthodox Church. a Roman Catholic bishop ranking above primates and metropolitans and immediately below the Pope.

-DERIVATIVES patriarchate n.
-ORIGIN ME: from OFr. patriarche, via eccles. L. from Gk patriarkhes, from patria 'family' + arkhes 'ruling'.