avuncular

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a·vun·cu·lar

(ə-vŭng′kyə-lər)

adj.

1. Of or having to do with an uncle.

2. Regarded as characteristic of an uncle, especially in benevolence or tolerance.

[From Latin avunculus, maternal uncle; see awo- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

avuncular

(əˈvʌŋkjʊlə)

adj

1. of or concerned with an uncle

2. resembling an uncle; friendly; helpful

[C19: from Latin avunculus (maternal) uncle, diminutive of avus grandfather]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

a•vun•cu•lar

(əˈvʌŋ kyə lər)

adj.

of, pertaining to, or characteristic of an uncle: avuncular affection.

[1825–35; < Latin avuncul(us) uncle + -ar¹]

a•vun`cu•lar′i•ty, n.

a•vun′cu•lar•ly, adv.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adj.	1.	avuncular - resembling a uncle in kindness or indulgence
	2.	avuncular - being or relating to an uncle

Translations

avunculaire

da zio

avuncular

[əˈvʌŋkjʊləʳ] ADJ → como de tío
avuncular advice → consejos mpl amistosos

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

avuncular

adj → onkelhaft

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

avuncular

[əˈvʌŋkjʊləʳ] adj (liter) (man) → bonario/a

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in ?

uncle

References in classic literature ?

Wilfred Bohun stood rooted to the spot long enough to see the idiot go out into the sunshine, and even to see his dissolute brother hail him with a sort of avuncular jocularity.

View in context

It is peopled with an array of unique characters, from a mother wise enough not to hold her too close, to a younger brother immersed in his video games, to the avuncular Pete.

Alsaid, Adi. Brief Chronicle of Another Stupid Heartbreak

Aneurin Barnard gives a thoughtful and deadpan performance as a depressed writer called William, who employs Tom Wilkinson's avuncular assassin to kill him within the week.

DEAD IN A WEEK [...]

To more recent generations, he will be remembered mostly as 'Uncle Sun,' an avuncular person working on a wide range of charity causes, including anti-smoking campaigns and assistance to the elderly and infirm.

Taiwan entertainer and philanthropist Sun Yueh dies, aged 87

Kluivert, 18, was an unused substitute in Ajax's 2-0 loss to United in Stockholm last May but was consoled by an avuncular Mourinho at the fulltime whistle.

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Much in her prolific oeuvre18 books, an LRB column and many occasional pieces–reads Sontagian, by which I mean attached to a certain kind of assimilated twentieth century Jewish female intellectual cool, an avuncular contrarian ferocity.

After 22 Years, Jenny Diski's First Short Story Collection is Published in America

Labour have a leader who - however avuncular - is from the hard left.

The Lib Dems' cliff edge

ENTERTAINMENT The cleverest kids (or are they the most pushy parents) do battle once more under the avuncular eye of Richard Osman (left).

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I don't send them up because they're sitting there on the stool, and the last thing they need is for me to devour them, so I'm very avuncular with them, I'm very kind.

QUOTES OF THE DAY

She marked this important political event in the form of a wonderfully evocative hand-drawn caricature map of the US depicting the two election candidates as squabbling children, supervised by the avuncular figure of Uncle Sam.

Comic maps of Europe, Lilian Lancaster, 1868

The favorite of the nine candidates running for the post is Igor Dodon, a 41-year-old pro-Moscow avuncular figure who heads the Socialists' Party and who has tapped into widespread dissatisfaction with the pro-European government, which has been in office since 2009.

Moldova presidential election holds impact for EU, Russia

But his avuncular demeanour gave way to something a little more testy when a German broadcaster queried Rooney about newspaper reports that he had spoken with Leicester forward Vardy about his wife Rebekah and her growing profile during the tournament.

THERE'S NO RIFT; Boss Hodgson hits back at suggestions of bust up in England camp