fatherly

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Characteristic of what is considered the ideal behaviour pertaining to fatherhood.
  2. Befitting of a father; protective, paternal.
adv
  1. In a way pertaining to, befitting, or of a father.

Pronunciation

/ˈfɑːðəli/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-fatherly.wav /ˈfɑðɚli/

Word forms

fatherly more fatherly most fatherly

Etymology

From Middle English faderly, from Old English fæderlīċ (“fatherly, paternal”), from Proto-West Germanic *faderlīk, from Proto-Germanic *fadurlīkaz (“fatherly, paternal”), equivalent to father + -ly. Cognate with West Frisian faderlik (“fatherly”), Dutch vaderlijk (“fatherly”), German väterlich (“fatherly”), Danish faderlig (“fatherly”), Swedish faderlig (“fatherly”), Icelandic föðurlegur (“fatherly”) . Doublet of fatherlike.

Derived words

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