Definitions for paternal
pəˈtɜr nlpa·ter·nal

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. paternaladjective

   belonging to or inherited from one's father

   "spent his childhood on the paternal farm"; "paternal traits"

2. paternaladjective

   characteristic of a father

3. parental, maternal, paternaladjective

   relating to or characteristic of or befitting a parent

   "parental guidance"

4. agnate, agnatic, paternaladjective

   related on the father's side

   "a paternal aunt"

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. paternaladjective

   Of or pertaining to one's father, his genes, his relatives, or his side of a family; as, "paternal grandfather" (one's father's father).

2. paternaladjective

   Fatherly; behaving as or characteristic of a father.

3. paternaladjective

   Received or inherited from one's father.

4. paternaladjective

   Acting as a father; as in "paternal filicide" (murder of a son committed by his father).

5. Etymology: From paternal (12c.), a learned borrowing from paternalis, from Classical paternus, from pater.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Paternaladjective

   Etymology: paternus, Lat. paternel, Fr.

   1. [

   I disclaim all my paternal care,
   Propinquity and property of blood;
   And as a stranger to my heart and me
   Hold thee. William Shakespeare, King Lear.

   Admonitions fraternal or paternal of his fellow christians or governors of the church. Henry Hammond.

   They spend their days in joy unblam’d; and dwell
   Long time in peace, by families and tribes,
   Under paternal rule. John Milton, Paradise Lost.

   2. Hereditary; received in succession from one’s father.

   Men plough with oxen of their own
   Their small paternal field of corn. Dryden.

   He held his paternal estate from the bounty of the conqueror. Dryden.

   Retreat betimes
   To thy paternal seat, the Sabine field,
   Where the great Cato toil’d with his own hands. Addison.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. paternal

   Paternal refers to anything pertaining to or characteristic of a father, including traits, characteristics, or items inherited from or related to one's father. It can also indicate a relationship traced through the father or male line. This term is often used in various social, biological, legal, and familial contexts.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Paternaladjective

   of or pertaining to a father; fatherly; showing the disposition of a father; guiding or instructing as a father; as, paternal care

2. Paternaladjective

   received or derived from a father; hereditary; as, a paternal estate

3. Etymology: [L. paternus, fr. pater a father: cf. F. paternel. See Father.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Paternal

   pa-tėr′nal, adj. fatherly: showing the disposition of a father: derived from a father: hereditary.—n. Pater′nalism.—adv. Pater′nally.—n. Pater′nity, state of being a father: fatherhood: the relation of a father to his children: origination or authorship. [Fr. paternel—Low L. paternalis—L. paternus—pater (Gr. patēr), a father.]

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. paternal

   The innate characteristic of a male human of being, acting and behaving like a responsible, just, fair and loving father.

   He is so paternal and loves his children with all his heart and soul.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on April 27, 2020  

Anagrams for paternal »

1. parental

2. prenatal

How to pronounce paternal?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say paternal in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of paternal in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of paternal in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of paternal in a Sentence

1. Joanna Kitlinska:

   Up to 75 percent of children with FASD have biological fathers who are alcoholics, suggesting that preconceptual paternal alcohol consumption negatively impacts their offspring.

2. France Hirokazu Kore-eda:

   He's a strong paternal figure, I am pleased to be competing here with him.

3. Leo Terrell:

   She has damaged her chances for future custodial rights, she disobeyed a court order to return the children. A writ of habeas corpus was filed by the ex-husband and granted by a New York Court ordering her to turn over the children to the paternal grandmother. Kelly received bad legal advice to defy the court order.

4. Benjamin Disraeli:

   Whenever is found what is called a paternal government, there is found state education. It has been discovered that the best way to ensure implicit obedience is to commence tyranny in the nursery.

5. Thomas Babington Macaulay:

   Nothing is so galling to a people not broken in from birth as a paternal, or, in other words, a meddling government, a government which tells them what to read, and say, and eat, and drink and wear.

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