FILIAL

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does filial mean? 

• FILIAL (adjective)
  The adjective FILIAL has 2 senses:

1. designating the generation or the sequence of generations following the parental generation

2. relating to or characteristic of or befitting an offspring

  Familiarity information: FILIAL used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FILIAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Designating the generation or the sequence of generations following the parental generation

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Domain category:

genetic science; genetics (the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms)

Antonym:

parental (designating the generation of organisms from which hybrid offspring are produced)

Pertainym:

offspring (the immediate descendants of a person)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Relating to or characteristic of or befitting an offspring

Context example:

filial respect

Similar:

daughterly (befitting a daughter)

Antonym:

parental (relating to or characteristic of or befitting a parent)

 Context examples 

Why, indeed; he does seem to have had some filial scruples on that head, as you will hear.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

When I mingled with other families I distinctly discerned how peculiarly fortunate my lot was, and gratitude assisted the development of filial love.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

His bowed head, and her angel-face and filial duty, derived a more pathetic meaning from it than they had had before.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Nature seemed to me benign and good; I thought she loved me, outcast as I was; and I, who from man could anticipate only mistrust, rejection, insult, clung to her with filial fondness.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I was touched by this filial anxiety.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so important, to raise his hand as if to strike him.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

To begin perfect happiness at the respective ages of twenty-six and eighteen is to do pretty well; and professing myself moreover convinced that the general's unjust interference, so far from being really injurious to their felicity, was perhaps rather conducive to it, by improving their knowledge of each other, and adding strength to their attachment, I leave it to be settled, by whomsoever it may concern, whether the tendency of this work be altogether to recommend parental tyranny, or reward filial disobedience.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

She listened to college stories with deep interest, caressed pointers and poodles without a murmur, agreed heartily that Tom Brown was a brick, regardless of the improper form of praise, and when one lad proposed a visit to his turtle tank, she went with an alacrity which caused Mamma to smile upon her, as that motherly lady settled the cap which was left in a ruinous condition by filial hugs, bearlike but affectionate, and dearer to her than the most faultless coiffure from the hands of an inspired Frenchwoman.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Mr. W. being infirm, and it being within the bounds of probability that his decease might lead to some discoveries, and to the downfall of—HEEP'S—power over the W. family,—as I, Wilkins Micawber, the undersigned, assume—unless the filial affection of his daughter could be secretly influenced from allowing any investigation of the partnership affairs to be ever made, the said—HEEP—deemed it expedient to have a bond ready by him, as from Mr. W., for the before-mentioned sum of twelve six fourteen, two and nine, with interest, stated therein to have been advanced by—HEEP—to Mr. W. to save Mr. W. from dishonour; though really the sum was never advanced by him, and has long been replaced.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)