Where does “paternal” come from?
paternal (Old French) comes from Vulgar Latin paternalis, from Latin paternus, from Latin pater, from Proto-Italic patēr, from Proto-Indo-European ph₂tḗr, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂- — to protect; to shepherd.
paternal (Old French): paternal
Ancestry of “paternal”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Vulgar Latin | paternalis | paternal |
| 2 | Latin | paternus | Of or pertaining to a father, paternal, fatherly;... |
| 3 | Latin | pater | father; head of household; parent |
| 4 | Proto-Italic | patēr | father |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ph₂tḗr | father |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₂- | to protect; to shepherd |
Words derived from “paternal”