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Definition of Paternal - 5 dictionary results
pa⋅ter⋅nal
[puh-tur-nl] 
nl
–adjective
| 1. | characteristic of or befitting a father; fatherly: a kind and paternal reprimand. |
| 2. | of or pertaining to a father. |
| 3. | related on the father's side: one's paternal grandfather. |
| 4. | derived or inherited from a father: paternal traits. |
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To Paternal
| pa·ter·nal (pə-tûr'nəl) adj.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin paternālis, from Latin paternus, from pater, father; see pəter- in Indo-European roots.] pa·ter'nal·ly adv. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Paternal
Pa*ter"nal\, a. [L. paternus, fr. pater a father: cf. F. paternel. See Father.]1. Of or pertaining to a father; fatherly; showing the disposition of a father; guiding or instructing as a father; as, paternal care. "Under paternal rule." --Milton. 2. Received or derived from a father; hereditary; as, a paternal estate. Their 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 afffairs.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : Paternal
Spanish:
paternal,
German:
väterlich,
Japanese:
父の
paternal
c.1433, from O.Fr. paternal "of a father" (12c.), from M.L. paternalis, from L. paternus "of a father," from pater (see father). Paternalism "government as by a father over his children" is first recorded 1881; paternalistic was in use by 1890.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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paternal pa·ter·nal (pə-tûr'nəl)
adj.
- Relating to or characteristic of a father or fatherhood.
- Received or inherited from a father.
- Related through one's father.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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