PATERNAL


Meaning of PATERNAL in English

— paternally , adv.

/peuh terr"nl/ , adj.

1. characteristic of or befitting a father; fatherly: a kind and paternal reprimand.

2. of or pertaining to a father.

3. related on the father's side: one's paternal grandfather.

4. derived or inherited from a father: paternal traits.

[ 1400-50; late ME paternalis, equiv. to L patern ( us ) paternal ( pater FATHER + -nus adj. suffix) + -alis -AL 1 ]

Syn. 1. See fatherly .

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .