Category:Paternity

Pa*ter"ni*ty, n. Etym: [l. paternitas: cf. F. paternité. See Paternal.]

1. The relation of a father to his child; fathership; fatherhood; Family headship; as, the divine paternity. The world, while it had scarcity of people, underwent no other Dominion than paternity and eldership. Sir w. Raleigh.

2. Derivation or descent from a father; male parentage; as, the Paternity of a child.

3. Origin; authorship. The paternity of these novels was. . . disputed. Sir w. Scott.