Defn: A circular ornament, resembling a dish, often worked in relief on friezes, and the like.
PATERERO
Pat`e*re"ro, n.
Defn: See Pederero. [Obs.]
PATERFAMILIAS Pa`ter*fa*mil`i*as, n.; pl. Pateresfamilias. Etym: [L., fr. pater father + familias, gen. of familia family.] (Rom. Law)
Defn: The head of a family; in a large sense, the proprietor of an estate; one who is his own master.
PATERNAL Pa*ter"nal, a. Etym: [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.
2. Received or derived from a father; hereditary; as, a paternal estate. Their small paternal field of corn. Dryden. 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 afffairs.
PATERNALISM
Pa*ter"nal*ism, n. (Polit. Science)
Defn: The theory or practice of paternal government. See Paternal government, under Paternal. London Times.