paternity
UK: pəˈtɜːnɪti | US: pəˈtɜːrnɪti
n. the state of being a father; fatherhood
n. legal recognition of a man as the father of a child
n. (figuratively) origin or authorship of an idea or work
paternity = pater<father> + nity<noun suffix>
- pater: From Latin pater (father), retained in English to denote paternal relationships.
- nity: A noun-forming suffix derived from Latin -itas (via Old French -ité), indicating a state or condition.
Etymology Origin:
The word paternity traces back to Latin paternitas, combining pater (father) and -itas (state of being). It entered Middle English via Old French paternité, reflecting societal emphasis on legal and biological fatherhood. The morphemes preserve their original spelling, making the word easily analyzable for learners.
The court confirmed his paternity after a DNA test.
Ancient Roman law placed great importance on paternity and lineage.
The artist’s paternity of the painting was disputed for centuries.
Modern science allows precise determination of paternity.
His sense of paternity grew stronger after his child was born.