patriciate

[ puh-trish-ee-it, ‑-eyt ]

noun

1. the patrician class.
2. patrician rank.

patriciate

/ -ˌeɪt; pəˈtrɪʃɪɪt /

noun

1. the dignity, position, or rank of a patrician
2. the class or order of patricians

Word History and Origins

Origin of patriciate¹

1650–60; < Medieval Latin patriciātus equivalent to Latin patrici(us) ( patrician ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

When Paul Diacre says, that Charles added Rome to his States from the year 774; it is according to Duquet an hyperbolical expression53 since Charles himself was satisfied with the simple patriciate.

From Project Gutenberg

He had been raised to this supreme dignity, not by the pope alone, but by an assembly of the clergy, of the nobility, and of the people of Rome.57 Behold, then, the precise period of the extinction of the sovereign rights of the Eastern Emperor in Rome: then, also, ceased the patriciate, properly so called; and the pope, no longer recognizing any intermediate person between him and the Western Emperor, became, indeed, the governor or first magistrate of Rome and of its territory.

From Project Gutenberg

Foremost among these was the great commercial capital, Amsterdam, whose rich burgher patriciate did not scruple on occasion to defy the authority of the States-General, the stadholder and even of the States of Holland themselves.

From Project Gutenberg

Those who have borne it have belonged of right to the true patriciate of their Commonwealth.

From Project Gutenberg

Lady Barb verily appeared to have for the representative of the American patriciate a mysterious fascination. 

From Project Gutenberg