n. [ LL. compaternitas, fr. compater godfather; com- + pater father. ] The relation of a godfather to a person. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The relation of gossipred or compaternity by the canon law is a spiritual affinity. Sir J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Pateræ(&unr_;). [ L., fr. patere to lie open. ] 1. A saucerlike vessel of earthenware or metal, used by the Greeks and Romans in libations and sacrifices. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) A circular ornament, resembling a dish, often worked in relief on friezes, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Pederero. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Pateresfamilias [ L., fr. pater father + familias, gen. of familia family. ] (Rom. Law) The head of a family; in a large sense, the proprietor of an estate; one who is his own master. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. paternus, fr. pater a father: cf. F. paternel. See Father. ] 1. Of or pertaining to a father; fatherly; showing the disposition of a father; guiding or instructing as a father; as, paternal care. “Under paternal rule.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Received or derived from a father; hereditary; as, a paternal estate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their small paternal field of corn. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Paternal government (Polit. Science), the assumption by the governing power of a quasi-fatherly relation to the people, involving strict and intimate supervision of their business and social concerns, upon the theory that they are incapable of managing their own affairs. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Polit. Science) The theory or practice of paternal government. See Paternal government, under Paternal. London Times. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. Benevolent but sometimes intrusive; -- used often of governments and the administration of large organizations. See paternal government. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adv. In a paternal manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. paternitas: cf. F. paternité. See Paternal. ] 1. The relation of a father to his child; fathership; fatherhood; family headship; as, the divine paternity. [ 1913 Webster ]

The world, while it had scarcity of people, underwent no other dominion than paternity and eldership. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Derivation or descent from a father; male parentage; as, the paternity of a child. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Origin; authorship. [ 1913 Webster ]

The paternity of these novels was . . . disputed. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., Our Father. ] 1. The Lord's prayer, so called from the first two words of the Latin version. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) A beadlike ornament in moldings. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Angling) A line with a row of hooks and bead-shaped sinkers. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mining) An elevator of an inclined endless traveling chain or belt bearing buckets or shelves which ascend on one side loaded, and empty themselves at the top. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Paternoster pump,
Paternoster wheel, a chain pump; a noria. --
Paternoster while, the space of time required for repeating a paternoster. Udall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Sp. aceituna zapatera. ] (Olive trade) A cured olive which has spoiled or is on the verge of decomposition; loosely, an olive defective because of bruises, wormholes, or the like. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]