a. - Of or pertaining to the Roman patres (fathers) or senators, or patricians.
a. - Of, pertaining to, or appropriate to, a person of high birth; noble; not plebeian.
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 nobility.
n. - A person of high birth; a nobleman.
n. - One familiar with the works of the Christian Fathers; one versed in patristic lore.