"of or pertaining to a parent or parents; proper to or characteristic of parents," 1620s, from Latin parentalis "of parents," from parens "father or mother" (see parent (n.)). Related: Parentally.
Entries linking to parental
parent n.
early 15c. (late 12c. as a surname), "a mother or father; a forebear, ancestor," from Old French parent "father, parent, relative, kin" (11c.) and directly from Latin parentem (nominative parens) "father or mother, ancestor," noun use of present participle of parire "bring forth, give birth to, produce," from PIE root *pere- (1) "to produce, bring forth." Began to replace native elder after c. 1500.