paternal
11
4.6
- adjective
- /pəˈtɜrnəl/
:
paternal
- Sefatsa had listened to him with a paternal smile, exchanging knowing looks with members of his joint command.
- paternal authority
- paternal role
- paternal warmth
Maybe he's missing that parent, that father paternal figure in his life.
- Maybe he's missing that parent, that father paternal figure in his life.
- I think most of it starts with lack of, I'm just going to say it, of a strong, in the right sense of the word, paternal figure.
- How much more truly human to regard wrongdoers with a gentle and paternal cast of mind, not to persecute them, but to summon them back.
- And it's beautiful because it's like paternal, it's strong, It's, you know, take risks, it's it's protection, it's provide.
Examples
-
She appreciated his paternal support during tough times.
-
His paternal instincts kicked in when he saw the lost child in the park.
-
What you need now is some paternal advice.
-
You never struck me as the paternal type.
-
No, I like to think of it more as a token of my paternal affection.
-
You just saved me from a solid hour of paternal lecturing.
-
You plan to rule your people with paternal kindness, like a father caring for his sons!
Fiction book (1992) -
"Better call it a night," he said, patting her arm in a paternal way, keeping her at a distance.
Fiction book (1991) -
He and I have formed a paternal bond that cannot be broken.
-
"Look, old chap," Frank said in a paternal tone, pulling his feet off the table and sitting up straight.
Fiction book (1998)
Synonyms
19
2.4
Kind and protective like a father toward someone
Kind and protective in the way a parent acts toward someone
Antonyms
Compounds
How Fatherly
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Paternal comes from the Latin word pater, which means 'father' and is the same root as paternity. So, to be paternal is to show 'fatherly' care or qualities.