pəˈtərnəd.ē, -tə̄n-, -təin-, -nətē, -i noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle French paternité, from Late Latin paternitat-, paternitas, from Latin paternus paternal + -itat-, -itas -ity — more at paternal
1. : the quality or state of being a father : fatherhood
the cares of paternity
2. : origin or descent from a father : male parentage
provides for citizenship of the child born out of wedlock if paternity is established — William Samore
3. : authorship , origination
the controversy which has attended the bipartisan policy has extended even to the question of its paternity — Norman Hill & Eugene Hangse