granddaughterly

comparative more granddaughterly · superlative most granddaughterly · alternative grand-daughterly

1. Relating to or characteristic of a granddaughter.

   I don’t think she can really care for him, except just in a grand[-]daughterly (what a horrid word to write!) sort of way.

   1881, “Rita” [pen name; Eliza Humphreys], “Extracts from Clarice Norburton’s Journal”, in Fragoletta, volume II, London: Tinsley Brothers, page 12

   3 more examples

   Our excursion to Topsham would, we supposed, prove a very disagreeable business to him; but we knew it would result very agreeably for us, and so, though with a good deal of maidenly compunction and granddaughterly compassion on Julia’s part, we out[-]voted him.

   1868, Edward E[verett] Hale, If, Yes, and Perhaps. Four Possibilities and Six Exaggerations, with Some Bits of Fact., Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, page 81

   Mabel had gone (it was a small service of granddaughterly duty, that had from long habit become an institution at Castle Roy) to her grandfather’s sanctum, with a cup of the beverage he loved, namely, a half cupful of weak green tea, filled to the brim with clotted cream.

   1871, [Matilda Charlotte Houstoun], chapter XXIX, in Wide of the Mark, volume II, London: Tinsley Brothers, page 269

   But I felt I was missing something, a link to the older generation. I thought it would be nice to have an elder to talk to, someone who could lay a little life wisdom on me as I reciprocated with granddaughterly attentions.

   1997 March 21, Bobbi Olson, “Forgotten Treasure: She sought a little wisdom. She found L.A.’s Auntie Mame.”, in Los Angeles Times, page E1