Part 114

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.

Pa*ter"nal*ism (?), n. (Polit. Science) The theory or practice of paternal government. See Paternal government, under Paternal. London Times.

Pa*ter"nal*ly, adv. In a paternal manner.

Pa*ter"ni*ty (?), n. [L. paternitas: cf. F. paternitÈ. 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.

Pa"ter*nos`ter (?), n. [L., Our Father.] 1. The Lord's prayer, so called from the first two words of the Latin version.

2. (Arch.) A beadlike ornament in moldings.

3. (Angling) A line with a row of hooks and bead&?;shaped sinkers.

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

Path (pth), n.; pl. Paths (pz). [As. pÊ, pa; akin to D. pad, G. pfad, of uncertain origin; cf. Gr. pa`tos, Skr. patha, path. √21.] 1. A trodden way; a footway.

The dewy paths of meadows we will tread.

Dryden.

2. A way, course, or track, in which anything moves or has moved; route; passage; an established way; as, the path of a meteor, of a caravan, of a storm, of a pestilence. Also used figuratively, of a course of life or action.

All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth.

Ps. xxv. 10.

The paths of glory lead but to the grave.

Gray.

Path (p), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pathed (pd); pr.p. & vb. n. Pathing.] To make a path in, or on (something), or for (some one). [R.] "Pathing young Henry's unadvised ways." Drayton.

Path, v. i. To walk or go. [R.] Shak.

Path`e*mat"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; a suffering, &?;, to suffer.] Of, pertaining to, or designating, emotion or suffering. [R.] Chalmers.

Pa*thet"ic (?), a. [L. patheticus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?;, &?;, to suffer: cf. F. pathÈtique. See Pathos.] 1. Expressing or showing anger; passionate. [Obs.]

2. Affecting or moving the tender emotions, esp. pity or grief; full of pathos; as, a pathetic song or story. "Pathetic action." Macaulay.