Word of the Day

: May 21, 2013

filial

adjective FIL-ee-ul

What It Means

1 : of, relating to, or befitting a son or daughter

2 : having or assuming the relation of a child or offspring

filial in Context

Margaret's sense of filial responsibility is only part of her motivation for carrying on her parents' business; she also loves the work.

"Confucianism, which emphasizes filial piety, has been the bedrock of Korean society for hundreds of years and, historically, older citizens would rely on their children to take care of them." - From an article by Audrey Yoo in Time, March 25, 2013

Did You Know?

"Filial" is descended from Latin "filius," meaning "son," and "filia," meaning "daughter," and in English (where it has been used since at least the 14th century) it has always applied to both sexes. The word has long carried the dutiful sense "owed to a parent by a child," as found in such phrases as "filial respect" and "filial piety." These days it can also be used more generally for any emotion or behavior of a child to a parent. You might suspect that "filia" is also the source of the word "filly," meaning "a young female horse" or "a young girl," but it isn't. Rather, "filly" is from Old Norse "fylja."