Definition of: patrician

(pə·trish′ən) adjective
1. Pertaining to the aristocracy.
2. Noble or aristocratic.
3. Of or pertaining to the Roman aristocracy; also, relating to patricians of the Italian republics, German free cities, etc.
—noun
1. An aristocrat; specifically, a member of the hereditary aristocracy that, for the first four centuries of her history, monopolized the government and priesthood of Rome.
2. Any one of the upper classes.
3. An honorary title bestowed by the later Roman emperors.
4. In medieval history, one of the upper class in the Italian republics, German free cities, etc. [<OF patricien <L patricius belonging to the senatorial class <pater, -tris a senator, lit., a father]
—pa·tri′·cian·ly adverb