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paternel

paternal, fatherly

adjective pah-tehr-NEHL Rare

Origin: Latin paternus, from pater (father)

Usage Note

Paternel can refer to biological relationship (oncle paternel = paternal uncle) or to a fatherly manner (ton paternel = fatherly tone). The feminine is paternelle. Le paternel is an informal way of saying 'one's father' in colloquial speech.

Examples

"Il avait un regard paternel sur ses élèves."

Natural Translation

He had a fatherly gaze towards his students.

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