paternal Hear it!

paternal definition

pa·ter·nal (pə tʉr′nəl)

adjective

  1. of, like, or characteristic of a father or fatherhood; fatherly
  2. derived, received, or inherited from a father
  3. related through the father's side of the family paternal grandparents

Etymology: ML paternalis < L paternus < pater, father

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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