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Definition of: patronymic
(pat′rə·nim′ik) adjective
Formed after one's father's name.
—noun
1. A name derived from an ancestor; a family name.
2. A name formed by the addition of a prefix or suffix to a proper name: Fitzhugh, son of Hugh; Johnson, son of John. Also pat′ro·nym noun [<Gk. patronymos (<patēr, -tros father + onyma, onoma name) + -IC]
—pat′·ro·nym′i·cal·ly adverb
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