Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Paternal
1.
Of or pertaining to a father; fatherly; showing the disposition of a father; guiding or instructing as a father;
“Under paternal rule.” as,
. paternal
careMilton.
2.
Received or derived from a father; hereditary;
as, a
. paternal
estateTheir small
paternal
field of corn. Dryden.
Paternal government
(Polit. Science)
, the assumption by the governing power of a quasi-fatherly relation to the people, involving strict and intimate supervision of their business and social concerns, upon the theory that they are incapable of managing their own affairs.
Webster 1828 Edition
Paternal
PATERN'AL
,Adj.
1.
Pertaining to a father; fatherly; as paternal care of affection; paternal favor or admonition.2.
Derived from the father; hereditary; as a paternal estate.Definition 2024
paternal
paternal
English
Adjective
paternal (comparative more paternal, superlative most paternal)
- Of or pertaining to one's father, his genes, his relatives, or his side of a family
- paternal grandfather
- Fatherly; behaving as or characteristic of a father.
- Received or inherited from one's father.
- Dryden
- their small paternal field of corn
- Dryden
- Acting as a father
- paternal filicide
Derived terms
Derived terms
Antonyms
- maternal – mother
Coordinate terms
- avuncular – uncle
- maternal – mother
- materteral – aunt
Translations
of or pertaining to one's father
|
fatherly; behaving as or characteristic of a father
received or inherited from one's father
acting as a father
Anagrams
Old French
Etymology
Borrowing from Latin paternālis. Compare the descended term paternel.
Adjective
paternal m (oblique and nominative feminine singular paternale)
Declension
Declension of paternal
| Number | Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Subject | paternaus | paternale | paternal |
| Oblique | paternal | paternale | paternal | |
| Plural | Subject | paternal | paternales | paternal |
| Oblique | paternaus | paternales | paternal |
Descendants
- English: paternal