chieftainess
Female clan leader
A chieftainess is a female chief or the wife of a chief, used primarily in historical or anthropological contexts when describing tribal or clan leadership.
The word is old-fashioned and rarely used today, as chief now applies regardless of gender: The chieftainess governed her people for three decades.
One who guides others
- rulerOne who governs
- sovereignSupreme in power
- commanderPerson with authority over others
- headUppermost body part
governor · queen · director · administrator · overseer · captain · chairperson · executive
Female family leader
- foremotherFemale forebear
- queen motherFormer consort, now maternal
- dowagerTitled widow of nobility
- elderSenior figure of authority
progenitress · matron · grandmother · ancestress · matrilineal · lineage · bloodline · dynasty
Related group sharing ancestry
- tribeSocial group sharing ancestry
- kinshipState of being related
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
- traditionsLong-established customs passed down
rituals · indigenous · ceremony · totem · shaman · council · sacred · lore
Authority to rule
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- ruleGoverning principle or standard
- governanceHow authority is exercised
- commandAuthoritative instruction given
jurisdiction · control · power · influence · sway · dominance · supremacy · ascendancy
Profound admiring respect
- venerationProfound admiring respect
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
- esteemFavorable opinion of worth
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
dignity · prestige · status · homage · tribute · recognition · admiration · regard
leader
One who guides others
head · governor · queen · director · administrator · overseer · captain · chairperson · executive · principal
matriarch
Female family leader
- foremotherFemale forebear
- queen motherFormer consort, now maternal
- dowagerTitled widow of nobility
elder · progenitress · matron · grandmother · ancestress · matrilineal · lineage · bloodline · dynasty · heritage
clan
Related group sharing ancestry
- tribeSocial group sharing ancestry
- kinshipState of being related
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
traditions · rituals · indigenous · ceremony · totem · shaman · council · sacred · lore · tribeswoman
dominion
Authority to rule
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- ruleGoverning principle or standard
- governanceHow authority is exercised
command · jurisdiction · control · power · influence · sway · dominance · supremacy · ascendancy · hegemony
reverence
Profound admiring respect
- venerationProfound admiring respect
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
- esteemFavorable opinion of worth
deference · dignity · prestige · status · homage · tribute · recognition · admiration · regard · repute
chief, chef, chiefly, chiefs, chieftain, chieftaincy, chiefdom, chieftainship, chiefess