Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Of, like, or appropriate to a father.
- adjective Showing the affection of a father.
- adverb In a manner befitting a father.
from The Century Dictionary.
- In the manner of a father.
- Pertaining or proper to a father: as, fatherly authority.
- Due from a father; like a kind father in affection and care; tender; paternal; protecting; careful: as, fatherly care or affection.
- Synonyms Fatherly, Paternal, Parental. Fatherly represents that which is more kind or tender or forbearing; paternal and parental represent that which is more strict or official.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Like a father in affection and care; paternal; tender; protecting; careful.
- adjective Of or pertaining to a father.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Characteristic of what is considered the ideal behaviour pertaining to
fatherhood . - adjective Characteristic of
fathers ,paternal .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective like or befitting a father or fatherhood; kind and protective
Etymologies
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Examples
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Ward had been told this by Spinney, who took what he called a fatherly interest in St. Cuthbert's, though it must be an exorbitant kind of interest which makes a man recommend a lot of freshers, or anybody else, to mix punch with champagne and port.
Godfrey Marten, Undergraduate Charles Turley 1904
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As he watches Tadzio play, Aschenbach feels what he describes as a fatherly sentiment.
NPR Topics: News 2010
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As he watches Tadzio play, Aschenbach feels what he describes as a fatherly sentiment.
NPR Topics: News 2010
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And to me they talked in fatherly ways, patronizing my youth and inexperience.
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“Dick, boy, your position is distinctly Carlylean,” Terrence McFane said in fatherly tones.
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He now saw clearly that all that he had been calling fatherly tenderness, pastoral zeal,
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 08, No. 49, November, 1861 Various
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More than 170 sons and daughters responded by recalling fatherly advice that ranged from practical to profound, and in some cases, downright peculiar.
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Bulger is doing his best to be a leader off the field, recalling fatherly advice when growing up in Pittsburgh and wondering about the Steelers 'motivation when they were out of the running.
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He looked at me with the kind of fatherly concern designed to determine who put a dent in the family car.
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It also sounds like he was trying to have it both ways - feel like he had a son with only supporting the son and being "fatherly" when he felt like it.
"$perm wail by donor." Ann Althouse 2007
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