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Finial vs Filial - What's the difference?

finial | filial |

As a noun finial

is the knot or bunch of foliage, or foliated ornament, that forms the upper extremity of a pinnacle in Gothic architecture.

As an adjective filial is

pertaining to or befitting a son or daughter.

finial

English

(wikipedia finial)

Noun

(en noun)
  • The knot or bunch of foliage, or foliated ornament, that forms the upper extremity of a pinnacle in Gothic architecture.
  • Any decorative fitting at the peak of a gable, or on the top of a flagpole, fence post or staircase newel post.
  • Quotations

    * 1988' : It was a narrow, gravelled island we had to lie on, guarded by glazed brick chimneys and, running along the sides, a prickly little gothic fence of iron '''finials and terracotta quatrefoils. - , (Penguin Books, paperback edition, 142)

    filial

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (not comparable) Pertaining to or befitting a son or daughter.
  • * 1794 , ,
  • The filial duty Ellesmere had paid to a father, who had no other claim to it than that he was'' his father, was now consoling to ''him [D'Alonville]; [...]
  • (comparable) Respectful of the duties and attitudes of a son or daughter toward their parents.
  • * 1885 , , "The actions and Attitude of Filiality", translated by James Legge,Cited in Robert E. Van Voorst (ed.) (2005), Anthology of world scriptures , ISBN 0-534-52099-5
  • If the admonition [to the parent] does not take effect, the son will be more reverential and more filial ; [...]
  • (genetics) Of a generation or generations descending from a specific previous one.
  • * 1916 , , Genetics & Eugenics , p. 101.
  • This, following Bateson, we may call the parental generation or P generation. Subsequent generations are called filial generations (abbreviated F) and their numerical order is indicated by a subscript, [...]

    Synonyms

    * (pertaining to or befitting of children) sonly, daughterly

    Antonyms

    * (pertaining to or befitting of children) maternal, paternal * (descendent) parental

    Derived terms

    * filial piety