fatherly
UK /ˈfɑːðəli/ · US /ˈfɑðɚli/ adjective, adverb
- adjective Characteristic of what is considered the ideal behaviour pertaining to fatherhood.
- adjective Befitting of a father; protective, paternal.
- adverb In a way pertaining to, befitting, or of a father.
Synonyms
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.
From Middle English faderly, fadirly, from Old English fæderlīċe (“in a fatherly way, as a father”), equivalent to father + -ly.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Like a father in affection and care; paternal; tender; protecting; careful.
- adjective Of or pertaining to a father.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “fatherly”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details