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avuncular

[ uh-vuhng-kyuh-ler ]
/ əˈvʌŋ kyə lər /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR avuncular ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or relating to an uncle: He spoke of his sister's son with avuncular pride.
acting like an uncle, as in being kind, patient, generous, etc., especially to younger people: the avuncular, slightly condescending boss of a toy company.

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Origin of avuncular

First recorded in 1825–35; from Latin avuncul(us) “a mother's brother,” equivalent to av(us) “a forefather” + unattested -ont- + unattested -l(os) diminutive suffix (cf. uncle) + -ar1

OTHER WORDS FROM avuncular

a·vun·cu·lar·i·ty [uh-vuhng-kyuh-lar-i-tee] /əˌvʌŋ kyəˈlær ɪ ti/ nouna·vun·cu·lar·ly, adverb

Words nearby avuncular

a vuestra salud, avulse, avulsed wound, avulsion, avulsion fracture, avuncular, avunculate, aw, awa, AWACS, await
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to avuncular

helping, counseling, consultative, advising, recommending

Example sentences from the Web for avuncular

British Dictionary definitions for avuncular

avuncular
/ (əˈvʌŋkjʊlə) /

adjective

of or concerned with an uncle
resembling an uncle; friendly; helpful

Word Origin for avuncular

C19: from Latin avunculus (maternal) uncle, diminutive of avus grandfather
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012