Where does “paternalism” come from?

Paternalism derives from English paternal, Ancient Greek -ισμός, Ancient Greek -μός, Latin -alis, Latin pater meaning father, Proto-Indo-European ph₂tḗr, and Proto-Indo-European peh₂-.

paternalism (English): The treatment of people in a fatherly manner,...

Definitions

  1. The treatment of people in a fatherly manner,...

Ancestry of “paternalism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpaternalOf or pertaining to one's father, his genes, his...
2Old Frenchpaternalpaternal
3Vulgar Latinpaternalispaternal
4LatinpaternusOf or pertaining to a father, paternal, fatherly;...
5Latinpaterfather; head of household; parent
6Proto-Italicpatērfather
7Proto-Indo-Europeanph₂tḗrfather
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₂-to protect; to shepherd
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₂-
paternalism — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer