ma·ter·nal

[muh-tur-nl]
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; < Medieval Latin māternālis, equivalent to Latin mātern(us) (māter mother + -nus adj. suffix) + -ālis -al1

ma·ter·nal·ism, noun
ma·ter·nal·is·tic, adjective
ma·ter·nal·ly, adverb
non·ma·ter·nal, adjective
non·ma·ter·nal·ly, adverb
qua·si-ma·ter·nal, adjective
qua·si-ma·ter·nal·ly, adverb
un·ma·ter·nal, adjective
un·ma·ter·nal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To maternal
00:10
Maternal is always a great word to know.
So is gobo. Does it mean:
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
Collins
World English Dictionary
maternal (məˈtɜːnəl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  of, relating to, derived from, or characteristic of a mother
2.  related through the mother's side of the family: his maternal uncle
 
[C15: from Medieval Latin māternālis, from Latin māternus, from māter mother]
 
ma'ternalism
 
n
 
maternal'istic
 
adj
 
ma'ternally
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

maternal
late 15c., from O.Fr. maternel (14c.), from V.L. *maternalis, from L. maternus "maternal, of a mother," from mater "mother" (see mother).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

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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Example sentences
There is such a thing as maternal depletion syndrome.
The second group keep their maternal accents, whereas the first group find it
  much easier and more natural to translate.
Its maternal mortality rate may be the highest in the world.
And there is evidence that other triggers, such as maternal viral infections,
  may play a role.
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