— 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 .