pa·ter·nal 
/pəˈtɚnl̟/ adjective
/pəˈtɚnl̟/ adjective 1 : of or relating to a father
▪ He did not neglect his paternal responsibilities after the divorce. ▪ He offered them some paternal [=fatherly] advice. 2 always used before a noun : related through the father
▪ his paternal grandparents [=the parents of his father] ▪ a paternal aunt/uncle — compare maternal
▪ He did not neglect his paternal responsibilities after the divorce. ▪ He offered them some paternal [=fatherly] advice.
▪ his paternal grandparents [=the parents of his father] ▪ a paternal aunt/uncle — compare maternal
— pa·ter·nal·ly adverb
▪ He smiled at them paternally. ▪ paternally inherited genes
▪ He smiled at them paternally. ▪ paternally inherited genes
