| paternity | 1. The relation of a father to his child; fathership; fatherhood; family headship; as, the divine paternity. "The world, while it had scarcity of people, underwent no other dominion than paternity and eldership." (Sir W. Raleigh) 2. Derivation or descent from a father; male parentage; as, the paternity of a child. 3. Origin; authorship. "The paternity of these novels was . . . Disputed." (Sir W. Scott) Origin: L. Paternitas: cf. F. Paternite. See Paternal. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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