prepatriarchal
|pre-pa-tri-ar-chal|
🇺🇸
/ˌpriːpeɪtriˈɑrkəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌpriːpeɪtrɪˈɑːk(ə)l/
before patriarchal rule
Etymology
'prepatriarchal' is formed from the prefix 'pre-' (from Latin 'præ-', meaning 'before') and 'patriarchal' (ultimately from Greek 'patriárkhēs', where 'patēr' meant 'father' and 'arkhē' meant 'rule').
'patriarchal' entered English via Late Latin and Old French from Greek 'patriárkhēs'; the English prefix 'pre-' was later attached to produce 'prepatriarchal' to denote a state 'before patriarchal'.
Initially, terms like 'patriarch' emphasized 'father' as leader; over time 'patriarchal' came to describe systems of male authority, and 'prepatriarchal' developed to describe situations or periods before such male-dominated structures existed.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
existing or occurring before the establishment of patriarchal social structures; pertaining to societies or periods predating male-dominated authority.
Archaeologists suggested the site showed prepatriarchal social organization, with evidence of shared leadership roles.
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Adjective 2
relating to artifacts, customs, or cultural patterns that originate from a time before patriarchal norms became dominant.
The museum displayed prepatriarchal pottery styles that suggested different gender roles than those recorded later.
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Last updated: 2025/10/04 18:23