patrician

adj 1: of the hereditary aristocracy or ruling class of ancient

Rome or medieval Europe; of honorary nobility in the

Byzantine empire [ant: {plebeian}, {proletarian}]

2: belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or

aristocracy; "an aristocratic family"; "aristocratic

Bostonians"; "aristocratic government"; "a blue family";

"blue blood"; "the blue-blooded aristocracy"; "of gentle

blood"; "patrician landholders of the American South";

"aristocratic bearing"; "aristocratic features";

"patrician tastes" [syn: {aristocratic}, {aristocratical},

{blue}, {blue-blooded}, {gentle}]

n 1: a person of refined upbringing and manners

2: a member of the aristocracy [syn: {aristocrat}, {blue blood}]