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paternity

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(pə tʉr′nə tē)

noun

the state of being a father; fatherhood
male parentage; paternal origin
origin or authorship in general

Origin: OFr paternité < LL paternitas < L paternus, paternal < pater, father

See paternity in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. pa·ter·ni·ties

The state of being a father; fatherhood.
Descent on a father's side; paternal descent.
Authorship; origin.

adjective

of or relating to a lawsuit brought by a woman attempting to establish that a particular man is the father of her child and so must provide the child with financial support: paternity case; paternity suit.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English paternite

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Late Latin paternitās

Origin: , from Latin paternus, paternal; see paternal

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