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paternal

pa·ter·nal [ pə túrn'l ]


adjective 
Definition:
 
1. of fathers or fatherhood: relating to fathers or considered characteristic of a father

2. related through father: being on a father's side of a family
her paternal grandfather

3. inherited from father: inherited or deriving from a father

[15th century. < late Latin paternalis< Latin pater "father"]

pa·ter·nal·ly adverb
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