2 meanings
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1 —as in:
paternal grandmother
Definition
related to a father; or characteristic of fathers- She is his paternal grandmother.
paternal = related through the father
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- Many of my paternal relatives are still in West Virginia.
- She also has a paternal half-sister who is 8 years old.
- Her paternal traits include...
- Father's brother or father's father's brother, if the relationship was on the paternal side her maiden name would be Westing.Ellen Raskin -- The Westing Game
- Jody climbed to the top of the fence and hung his feet over and looked paternally down at the mare.John Steinbeck -- The Red Pony
- ...he had visited her in her paternal mansion.Washington Irving -- The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
- The captain's tone was one of paternal disappointment.Carl Hiassen -- Hoot
- He takes her to visit his paternal grandmother across town.Sonia Nazario -- Enrique's Journey
- Standing on that miserable eminence, she saw again her native village, in Old England, and her paternal home: a decayed house of grey stone, with a poverty-stricken aspect, but retaining a half obliterated shield of arms over the portal, in token of antique gentility.Nathaniel Hawthorne -- The Scarlet Letter
paternal = related through the father
paternal = related through the father
paternal = relating to a father
paternally = in a manner that is like that of a father
paternal = relating to a father
paternal = like a father's
paternal = relating to a father
paternal = relating to a father
2 —as in:
paternal attitude
Definition
kindness and concern like that of a father — sometimes implying that it is overly intrusive- The City Council means well, but they are too paternal. Adults should be allowed to make more of their own decisions without having to leave town.
paternal = the way a father would treat a young child
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- As he grew older, he developed paternal feelings for the new hires and helped them learn the ropes.
- Juan took a paternal interest in the boy and offered him sound guidance over the years.
- "Sit down, Daisy," Tom's voice groped unsuccessfully for the paternal note.F. Scott Fitzgerald -- The Great Gatsby
- One paternal kind precaution he had taken to ensure my having a companion.Mary Shelley -- Frankenstein
- When Franz met McCandless, his long-dormant paternal impulses were kindled anew.Jon Krakauer -- Into the Wild
- Louie idolized Pete, who watched over him and their younger sisters, Sylvia and Virginia, with paternal protectiveness.Laura Hillenbrand -- Unbroken
- She thanked him for his great attention, his paternal kindness, but he was quite mistaken in supposing she had the smallest desire of breaking through her engagement, or was sensible of any change of opinion or inclination since her forming it.Jane Austen -- Mansfield Park
- There was a touch of paternal contempt in it, even toward people he liked — and there were men at New Haven who had hated his guts.F. Scott Fitzgerald -- The Great Gatsby
- As most of these old Custom-House officers had good traits, and as my position in reference to them, being paternal and protective, was favourable to the growth of friendly sentiments, I soon grew to like them all.Nathaniel Hawthorne -- The Scarlet Letter
paternal = father-like
paternal = like a father
paternal = like the concern of a father
paternal = fatherly
paternal = like a father
paternal = fatherly
paternal = superior (like a father to a young child)
paternal = fatherly
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