Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1400-1500
Language: Latin
Origin: paternus 'of a father', from pater 'father'

paternal

 adjective
     
pa‧ter‧nal
1 paternal feelings or behaviour are like those of a kind father towards his children:
Dan took a paternal interest in my work.
2

paternal grandmother/uncle etc

your father's mother, brother etc
—paternally adverb
➔ maternal
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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