Patrician
/pəˈtrɪʃən/
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Definition
(noun) 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 senior class of Romans, who, with certain property, had by right a seat in the Roman Senate.
Sentence Examples
The patrician family owned vast lands.
He was a patrician with refined tastes.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ families of ancient Rome held most of the political power and land in the early republic.