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6 dictionary results for: maternal
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
ma·ter·nal       [muh-tur-nl] Pronunciation Key
–adjective
1.of, pertaining to, having the qualities of, or befitting a mother: maternal instincts.
2.related through a mother: his maternal aunt.
3.derived from a mother: maternal genes.
[Origin: 1475–85; < ML māternālis, equiv. to L mātern(us) (māter mother + -nus adj. suffix) + -ālis -al1]

—Related forms
ma·ter·nal·ism, noun
ma·ter·nal·is·tic, adjective
ma·ter·nal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ma·ter·nal       (mə-tûr'nəl)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.  
  1. Relating to or characteristic of a mother or motherhood; motherly: maternal instinct.
  2. Inherited from one's mother: a maternal trait.
  3. Related through one's mother: my maternal uncle.


[Middle English, from Old French maternel, from Medieval Latin māternālis, from Latin māternus, from māter, mother; see māter- in Indo-European roots.]

ma·ter'nal·ism n., ma·ter'nal·ly adv.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
maternal 
1481, from O.Fr. maternel (14c.), from V.L. *maternalis, from L. maternus "maternal, of a mother," from mater "mother" (see mother).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
maternal

adjective
1. characteristic of a mother; "warm maternal affection for her guest"- Dorothy Sayers [ant: paternal] 
2. relating to or derived from one's mother; "maternal genes" 
3. relating to or characteristic of or befitting a parent; "parental guidance" [syn: parental] [ant: filial] 
4. related on the mother's side; "my maternal grandmother" [syn: enate] 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

maternal ma·ter·nal (mə-tûr'nəl)
adj.

  1. Relating to or characteristic of a mother.
  2. Inherited from one's mother.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Maternal

Ma*ter"nal\, a. [F. maternel, L. maternus, fr. mater mother. See Mother.] Of or pertaining to a mother; becoming to a mother; motherly; as, maternal love; maternal tenderness.

Syn: See Motherly.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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