Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Paternity \Pa*ter"ni*ty\, n. [L. paternitas: cf. F.
   paternit['e]. See {Paternal}.]
   1. The relation of a father to his child; fathership;
      fatherhood; family headship; as, the divine paternity.

            The world, while it had scarcity of people,
            underwent no other dominion than paternity and
            eldership.                            --Sir W.
                                                  Raleigh.

   2. Derivation or descent from a father; male parentage; as,
      the paternity of a child.

   3. Origin; authorship.

            The paternity of these novels was . . . disputed.
                                                  --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.

Source : WordNet®

paternity
     n 1: the state of being a father; "tests were conducted to
          determine paternity"
     2: the kinship relation between an offspring and the father
        [syn: {fatherhood}]
     3: the act of initiating a new idea or theory or writing; "the
        authorship of the theory is disputed" [syn: {authorship}]