Matriarch
/ˈmeɪ.tri.ɑːrk/noun
A female head of a family or tribe.
Did you know?In ancient cultures, matriarchs often held sacred roles as priestesses, linking them to the spiritual and mystical realms of their societies.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*méh₂tēr
“Mother, nourisher, or creator.”
Latin
Latin
mater
“Mother, a source or origin.”
Old French
Old French
matriarche
“Female leader of a family or tribe.”
Middle English
Middle English
matriarke
“Female head of a lineage.”
Modern English
English
matriarch
“A woman who is the head of a family or community.”