[puh-tur-nl] 
| 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. |
| 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. |
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.
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