Paterfamilias
Defined in 3 dictionaries — Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910), Bouvier (1839)
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
The father of a family.
In Roman law. The head or master of a family. This word is sometimes employed, in a wide sense, as equivalent to sui juris. A person sui juris is called "paterfamilias" even when under the age of puberty. In the narrower and more common use, a paterfamilias is any one invested with potestas over any person. It is thus as applicable to a grandfather as to a father. Hunter, Rom. Law, 49.
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
John Bouvier · 1839
civil law. One who was sui juris, and consequently was not either under parental power, or under that of a master; a child in his cradle, therefore, could have been pater familias, if he had neither a master nor a father. Lec. Elem. § 127, 128.