paternal
UK: pəˈtɜːnəl | US: pəˈtɜːrnəl
adj. relating to or characteristic of a father
adj. inherited or derived from a father
adj. (biology) related through the father’s lineage
paternal = pater<father> + nal<adjective suffix>
- pater: From Latin pater (father), retained in English to denote fatherly attributes.
- nal: A suffix derived from Latin -alis, used to form adjectives indicating relation or pertaining to.
Etymology Origin:
The word paternal traces back to Latin paternus, meaning "of a father," which itself comes from pater (father). This root is shared with other Indo-European languages (e.g., Greek patēr, Sanskrit pitṛ). The suffix -al was adopted into English via Old French, standardizing adjectives of relation. The term evolved to encompass biological, emotional, and legal dimensions of fatherhood.
His paternal grandfather immigrated to the US in the 1920s.
She inherited her blue eyes from her paternal side.
The company has a paternal approach to employee welfare.
In many cultures, paternal authority is highly respected.
The study focused on paternal influences on child development.