1. (a.) Of or pertaining to a parent or to parents; as, parental authority; parental obligations.

2. (a.) Becoming to, or characteristic of, parents; tender; affectionate; devoted; as, parental care.

adoring affectionate ancestorial ancestral conjugal covering custodial defensive demonstrative devoted faithful fatherlike fatherly filial fond fostering grandfatherly grandmotherly grandparental guardian guarding husbandly immunizing languishing lovelorn lovesick lovesome loving maternal melting mother motherlike motherly parent paternal patriarchal preventive prophylactic protecting protective romantic safeguarding screening sentimental sheltering shielding soft tender tutelary uxorious vigilant watchful wifely