English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

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 edit

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

Adjective edit

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.
  4. Acting as a father.
    (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Antonyms edit

Coordinate terms edit

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

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

Anagrams edit

Old French edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Latin paternālis. Compare the descended term paternel.

Adjective edit

paternal m (oblique and nominative feminine singular paternale)

  1. paternal

Declension edit

Descendants edit

  • English: paternal

Romanian edit

Etymology edit

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

Adjective edit

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

  1. fatherly

Declension edit

Spanish edit

Pronunciation edit

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

Adjective edit

paternal m or f (masculine and feminine plural paternales)

  1. paternal, fatherly

Derived terms edit

Further reading edit