English Meaning & Definitions
Relating to or characteristic of a father; fatherly.
- “He felt a strong sense of paternal pride as he watched his daughter graduate.”
- “The company adopted a paternal approach, offering extensive support and guidance to its younger employees.”
Related through the father's side of the family.
- “I inherited my blue eyes from my paternal grandfather.”
- “She visited her paternal relatives in Italy every summer.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “paternal”.
Derived from the Late Latin 'paternalis', from the Latin 'pater' (father). It shares a common Indo-European root with the Greek 'patēr' and the Sanskrit 'pitṛ', reflecting the ancient and universal nature of the father figure in human society.
Think of 'PA' as in 'PApa'—it relates to the father.
Frequently Asked Questions About “paternal”
1. What is the meaning of “paternal” in English?
In English, paternal (adjective) is defined as: “Relating to or characteristic of a father; fatherly.”.
2. How do you use “paternal” in a sentence?
“He felt a strong sense of paternal pride as he watched his daughter graduate.”
3. What are English synonyms of “paternal”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “paternal”?
Derived from the Late Latin 'paternalis', from the Latin 'pater' (father). It shares a common Indo-European root with the Greek 'patēr' and the Sanskrit 'pitṛ', reflecting the ancient and universal nature of the father figure in human society.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.