patrician

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A person of refined upbringing, manners, and tastes.
2. n. A member of an aristocracy; an aristocrat.
3. n. A member of one of the noble families of the ancient Roman Republic, which before the third century B.C. had exclusive rights to the Senate and the magistracies.
4. n. Used as a title for members of a class of honorary nobility appointed by the Byzantine emperors.
5. n. A member of the hereditary ruling class in the medieval free cities of Italy and Germany.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. Belonging to or composed of the patres or fathers (the title of the senators of ancient Rome); hence, of noble birth; noble; senatorial; not plebeian: as, patrician families; patrician influence.
2. n. In ancient Rome, a descendant or reputed descendant of one of the original citizen families; hence, in general, a person of noble birth.
3. n. Under the later Roman empire, a title or dignity conferred by the emperor, often upon persons of plebeian blood, or even upon foreigners. It was frequently given to propitiate the good will of a powerful chief. The title was conferred by Pope Stephen on Pepin the Short, and was assumed by certain rulers, is Charlemagne.
4. n. A member of an influential class in certain German and Swiss cities in the middle ages.
5. n. One who is familiar with the works of the early fathers of the Christian church.
6. n. A member of a Christian body, probably of the fifth century, followers of one Patricius, who held dualistic doctrines.

Wiktionary

1. n. 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 senior class of Romans, who, with certain property, had by right a seat in the Roman Senate.
2. n. A person of high birth; a nobleman.
3. n. One familiar with the works of the Christian Fathers; one versed in patristic lore or life.
4. adj. Of or pertaining to the Roman patres (fathers) or senators, or patricians.
5. adj. Of, pertaining to, or appropriate to, a person of high birth; noble; not plebeian.
6. adj. Of or pertaining to St. Patrick.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. adj. (Rom. Antiq.) Of or pertaining to the Roman patres (fathers) or senators, or patricians.
2. adj. Of, pertaining to, or appropriate to, a person of high birth; noble; not plebeian.
3. n. (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.
4. n. A person of high birth; a nobleman.
5. n. rare One familiar with the works of the Christian Fathers; one versed in patristic lore.

WordNet 3.0

1. adj. belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy
2. n. a member of the aristocracy
3. adj. befitting a person of noble origin
4. n. a person of refined upbringing and manners