pa ‧ ter ‧ nal /pəˈtɜːnl $ -ɜːr-/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: paternus 'of a father' , from pater 'father' ]
1 . paternal feelings or behaviour are like those of a kind father towards his children:
Dan took a paternal interest in my work.
2 . paternal grandmother/uncle etc your father’s mother, brother etc
—paternally adverb
⇨ ↑ maternal