pa·ter·ni·ty 
(pə-tûrnĭ-tē)
(pə-tûrnĭ-tē)n. pl. pa·ter·ni·ties
1. The state of being a father; fatherhood.
2. Descent on a father's side; paternal descent.
3. Authorship; origin.
adj.
Relating to or involving the identification of a person's biological father: a paternity suit.
[Middle English paternite, from Old French, from Late Latin paternitās, from Latin paternus, paternal; see PATERNAL.]