'Paternal government' definitions:

Definition of 'Paternal government'

From: GCIDE

Paternal \Pa*ter"nal\, a. [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. [1913 Webster]
2. Received or derived from a father; hereditary; as, a paternal estate. [1913 Webster]
Their small paternal field of corn. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
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 affairs. [1913 Webster]