What is ''patrician'' ?

Question: What is ''patrician'' !?
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A patrician is a person in ancient Rome who was in the top class!. People could only become patricians by being born into that class!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

patrician \puh-TRISH-un\, noun:
1!. A member of one of the original citizen families of ancient Rome!.
2!. A person of high birth; a nobleman!.
3!. A person of refined upbringing, manners, and taste!.

adjective:
1!. Of or pertaining to the patrician families of ancient Rome!.
2!. Of, pertaining to, or appropriate to, a person of high birth; noble; not plebeian!.
3!. Befitting or characteristic of refined upbringing, manners, and taste!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

"Patrician" means "aristocratic!." Comes from the ruling classes in Rome, who were thought to be the fathers ("patres") of the city, its guides!. Nowadays people are said to have patrician manners when they give the impression of being elite, like John Kerry or Barack Obama!. However, "elite" carries the implication of snobbery, whereas "patrician" simply means well-bred, with no hint of condescension--John F!. Kennedy, for instance, or Franklin D!. Roosevelt!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Patrician was the wealthy, upper-class in Ancient Rome!. The Patrician class was made up mostly of the oldest, and most politically influential families, although as time went on, it grew to include anyone who was wealthy enough to gain influence in Rome!.

http://en!.wiktionary!.org/wiki/patricianWww@QuestionHome@Com

Think of Patricians as Roman noblemen, or aristocracy!. Then came the Equestrian class, which would roughly but not perfectly translate into the knightly class in medieval times!.
Finally were the Plebians, or commoners!. This would include everyone from weatlhy business families to freed slaves!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

"Patri" is latin for father!. They were the most important ruling class in ancient Rome -"fathers" of government and society!. They were senators and the social elite!. To be "patrician" is to be an aristocrat, privileged, elegant, powerful and fashionable!.Www@QuestionHome@Com