Paternity
Pronunciation : Pa*ter"ni*ty
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [L. paternitas: cf. F. paternit?. See Paternal.]
Definition : 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.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913