[pa.ter.nal.ism] n (1881) 1: a system under which an authority undertakes to supply needs or regulate conduct of those under its control in matters affecting them as individuals as well as in their relations to authority and to each other
2: a policy or practice based on or characteristic of paternalism -- pa.ter.nal.ist n or adj -- pa.ter.nal.is.tic adj -- pa.ter.nal.is.ti.cal.ly adv