paternal

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word paternal. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word paternal, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say paternal in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word paternal you have here. The definition of the word paternal will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofpaternal, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old French paternal (“of a father”) (12c.), a learned borrowing from Vulgar Latin paternālis (“paternal”), from Classical Latin paternus (“of or pertaining to a father, paternal”), from pater (“father”).

Pronunciation

  • enPR: pə-tû(r)'nəl, IPA(key): /pəˈtɜː(ɹ)nəl/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)nəl

Adjective

paternal (comparative more paternal, superlative most paternal)

  1. Of or pertaining to one's father, his genes, his relatives, or his side of a family.
    paternal grandfather
    • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Different Views of Youth and Age”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. , volume I, London: Henry Colburn, , →OCLC, page 93:
      It was with a natural touch of pride that Norbourne Courtenaye paced his paternal hall, while waiting for his uncle, with whom he was going to ride.
  2. Fatherly; behaving as or characteristic of a father.
  3. Received or inherited from one's father.
    • a. 1701 (date written), John Dryden, “The Second Epode of Horace”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, , volume II, London: J and R Tonson, , published 1760, →OCLC, page 477:
      Thus, ere the ſeeds of vice were ſown, / Liv'd men in better ages born, / Who plow'd with oxen of their own / Their ſmall paternal field of corn.
  4. Acting as a father.
    (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Antonyms

Coordinate terms

Derived terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

Anagrams

Old French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin paternālis. Compare the descended term paternel.

Adjective

paternal m (oblique and nominative feminine singular paternale)

  1. paternal

Declension

Declension of paternal
Number Case Masculine Feminine Neuter
Singular Subject paternaus paternale paternal
Oblique paternal paternale paternal
Plural Subject paternal paternales paternal
Oblique paternaus paternales paternal

Descendants

  • English: paternal

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French paternel. By surface analysis, patern +‎ -al.

Adjective

paternal m or n (feminine singular paternală, masculine plural paternali, feminine and neuter plural paternale)

  1. fatherly

Declension

Declension of paternal
singular plural
masculine neuter feminine masculine neuter feminine
nominative/
accusative 		indefinite paternal paternală paternali paternale
definite paternalul paternala paternalii paternalele
genitive/
dative 		indefinite paternal paternale paternali paternale
definite paternalului paternalei paternalilor paternalelor

Spanish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /pateɾˈnal/
  • Rhymes: -al
  • Syllabification: pa‧ter‧nal

Adjective

paternal m or f (masculine and feminine plural paternales)

  1. paternal, fatherly

Derived terms

Further reading

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia