1. In ancient Athens, a member of the aristocratic class of landowners who claimed descent from the early kings and held exclusive political and religious privileges.
Usage: historical; usually plural; ancient Greek history

Examples

• The eupatridae dominated Athenian politics before the democratic reforms of Solon.
• Only members of the eupatridae could serve as archons in early Athens.
• The eupatridae claimed divine ancestry and controlled most of the land in Attica.
• Solon's reforms reduced the power of the eupatridae by opening magistracies to the wealthy middle class.
• The eupatridae resisted the rise of democracy in ancient Athens.