pəˈtərn ə l, -tə̄n-, -təin- adjective
Etymology: Late Latin paternalis, from paternus paternal (from pater father) + -alis -al — more at father
1. : of or relating to a father : evincing a father's care or solicitude : fatherly
his smile was almost paternal — Kenneth Roberts
2. : belonging to or received or inherited from one's father
passed his childhood on the paternal farm — Current Biography
3. : related (as an ancestor) through one's father
paternal grandfather
• pa·ter·nal·ly - ə lē, p ə li adverb