materfamilias
Household's female head
Materfamilias is the female head of a household or family, the Latin counterpart to paterfamilias.
The term appears in historical, legal, and anthropological contexts describing family structures where a woman holds primary authority: As materfamilias, she managed the estate and directed the servants.
In modern use, it often carries a slightly formal or humorous tone when describing a dominant mother figure.
Titled widow of nobility
- grandmotherMother of a parent
- ancestressFemale from whom one descends
- foremotherFemale forebear
- doyenneSenior female authority
Related group sharing ancestry
- kinBlood-connected people
- householdDomestic unit of residents
- relativesThose connected by blood
- familyRelated people together
lineage · bloodline · descent · genealogy · ancestry · progeny · brood · consanguinity
Profound admiring respect
- esteemFavorable opinion of worth
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- homageExpression of deep respect
- respectRegard with honor
honor · dignity · admiration · acknowledgment · tribute · devotion · gratitude · loyalty
Domestic unit of residents
- governanceHow authority is exercised
- managementOrganizing and directing resources
- supervisionOverseeing people or processes
- directionWay something faces
oversight · command · discipline · control · dominion · influence · administration · charge
Traditional practices or import taxes
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- heirloomsObjects passed through family lines
- legacyWhat's passed down
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
birthright · rituals · ceremonies · values · wisdom · continuity · stewardship · guardianship
dowager
Titled widow of nobility
- grandmotherMother of a parent
- ancestressFemale from whom one descends
- foremotherFemale forebear
doyenne · patriarch · housemother · sibyl
clan
Related group sharing ancestry
family · lineage · bloodline · descent · genealogy · ancestry · progeny · brood · consanguinity · dynasty
veneration
Profound admiring respect
- esteemFavorable opinion of worth
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- homageExpression of deep respect
respect · honor · dignity · admiration · acknowledgment · tribute · devotion · gratitude · loyalty · fidelity
household
Domestic unit of residents
- governanceHow authority is exercised
- managementOrganizing and directing resources
- supervisionOverseeing people or processes
direction · oversight · command · discipline · control · dominion · influence · administration · charge · leadership
customs
Traditional practices or import taxes
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- heirloomsObjects passed through family lines
- legacyWhat's passed down
inheritance · birthright · rituals · ceremonies · values · wisdom · continuity · stewardship · guardianship · preservation
materfamiliaspaterfamilias
Male head of family
patriarch · family patriarch · father figure · master of the house · pater
maternal, matriarch, maternity, matrimony, matron, alma mater, matricide, matriculate, matriarchy