Pā/tri-ārch/al or Pā/tri-ārch/ie, a.
a. [Fr., Pr., & Sp. patriarcal, It. patriarcale; Lat. patriarchicus, Gr. πατριαρχικός.]
Sense 1. Belonging or relating to patriarchs; possessed by patriarchs; as, patriarchal power or jurisdiction; a patriarchal see.
Sense 2. Subject to a patriarch; as, a patriarchal church.
Patriarchal cross (Her.), a cross, the shaft of which is twice crossed, the lower arms being longer than the upper ones. [See Illust. of Cross.]