fatherhood
(ˈfɑːðəhʊd)
also † fatherhead. Forms: α. 4–5 fader-, -ir-, -ur-, -yr-, -hed(e, -heed, 5 fatherhed(e, 6 (fathered), Sc. fatherheid, 6–7 fatherhead. β. 5 fader-, -ir-, -hode, -hood, (fathyrod), 6 fatherhode, -hoode, 6– fatherhood.
[f. father n. + -hood, -head.]
1. a. The attribute of being a father; the relation of a father to a child; paternity. Also in spiritual sense.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 179 Frute of such fadurhede schal be joye of heven. 1579–80 North Plutarch (1676) 21 Patres Conscripti, which is a name of Father-head. a 1647 Filmer Patriarcha i. §9 (1884) 19 The right of fatherhood. 1759 Johnson Let. to Simpson in Boswell, In his refusal to assist you there is neither good nature, fatherhood, nor wisdom. 1866 Geo. Eliot F. Holt (1868) 119 I'll lay hold of them by their fatherhood. |
| transf. 1889 Boys' Own Paper 23 Mar. 400/1 The fatherhood of the game [stool-ball] to cricket is unmistakable. |
b. applied to God in his relation to mankind.
| 1611 Perkins Cases Consc. (1619) 368 He beares in his person the image of Gods paternitie, or father-hoode. c 1620 Donne Serm. xxxviii. 380 Now we consider God in a two-fold Paternity a two-fold Fatherhood. 1830 E. Irving in Mackintosh Life II. 477 We pray for those orphans who have been deprived of their parents and are now thrown on the fatherhood of God. 1876 A. Swanwick in Contemp. Rev. June 116 This conception of the universal Fatherhood of God..has changed..the aspect of the world. |
c. with especial reference to
Eph. iii. 15 after the Vulgate rendering (
paternitas).
| 1382 Wyclif Eph. iii. 15 Oure Lord Jhesu Crist, of whom ech fadirheed in heuenes and in erthe is named. 1583 Golding Calvin on Deut. xxxvi. 214 We heare that all fatherhoode proceedeth of God. 1588 A. King tr. Canisius' Catech., Prayers 36 To the Father..frome quhome al fatherheid in heauen and earth is named. |
¶ d. confused use. The attribute of having a certain father.
| 1846 Keble Lyra Innoc., Children Like Parents 7 To descry The welcome notes of fatherhood, In form, and lip, and eye. 1878 Grosart H. More's Poems Mem. Introd. 41/1 His conception of our common Fatherhood and Brotherhood was Christ-like. |
e. The position of being the ‘father’ or oldest member of a society,
esp. of the House of Commons.
| 1899 Daily News 24 Apr. 7/3 The House decided informally that the Fatherhood rested with whoever had been longest in the House. 1907 Westm. Gaz. 23 May 2/3 The ‘Fatherhood’ of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. |
2. The relation of an author, originator, or perpetrator.
rare.
| 1871 H. B. Forman Our Living Poets 462 Any more than Silisco and Ruggiero..lack..fatherhood to fine sayings. 1885 Manch. Exam. 26 Jan. 5/1 To adopt the fatherhood of such atrocities is an easy way of obtaining credit. |
† 3. Authority of or as of a father in various senses; paternal authority, headship.
Obs.| c 1460 Play Sacram. 894 And in fatherhed that longyth to my dygnyte Vn to yow{supr} grefe I wylle gyf credens. 1563–87 Foxe A. & M. (1596) 195/2 Yet had Becket no cause to claime fatherhood ouer the King. 1610 Bp. Carleton Jurisd. 4 Others..content to allowe the Pope's Fatherhood in spirituall matters. 1645 Milton Tetrach. (1851) 165 Shall fatherhood, which is but man, for his own pleasure dissolve matrimony? 1690 Locke Govt. i. ii. (1694) 5 We might have had an entire Notion of this Fatherhood, or Fatherly Authority. |
† 4. The personality of a father; in
thy, your, etc. fatherhood(s, a form of address, denomination, or title given:
a. to ecclesiastics,
esp. those of high rank.
His Holy Fatherhood, the Pope.
Obs.| c 1400 Mandeville (1839) xxxi. 314 And [I] besoughte his holy fadirhode, þat my boke myghte be examyned. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 247/1 What thyng is in me y{supt} hath displesyd thy faderhede. 1534 Hildebrand (W. de W.) A vj, Althoughe he haue fulfylled the penaunce of thy fatherhode enjoyned. 1546 Bale Eng. Votaries ii. (1550) 22 b, Gregory the vj..had nothynge left hym, to sustayne hys owne holy fathered..but the bare offerynges and a fewe rentes there besydes. 1614 Bp. Hall Recoll. Treat. 870 Sixe whole books, should, by their father-hoods of Trent, be..imperiously obtruded upon God, and his Church. 1641 Prynne Antip. 113 Never to make an end, till both parties hath given some possessions to his Holy Father-head. a 1661 Fuller Worthies iii. 147 He reproved Pope Sergius his fatherhood, for being a father indeed to a Base Child. |
b. to God.
| c 1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iii. 904 That my prayour be resowndable to þi fathyrod In glory. 1531 Tindale Exp. 1 John 22 His fatherhed geueth pardon frely. |
c. to a literal father; hence
gen. to persons having a claim to respect.
| c 1450 Henryson Mor. Fab. 46 Not to displease your Fatherhood. 1461 Paston Lett. No. 410 II. 39, I submytt me lowlely to your good faderhood. 1608 Middleton Trick to Catch Old One i. iv, Now to the judges, ‘May it please your reverend honourable fatherhoods.’ 1682 Bunyan Holy War 256 If what we have said shall not by thy Father⁓hood be thought best. |