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maternal

 - 5 dictionary results

ma⋅ter⋅nal

  [muh-tur-nl]
Use maternal in a Sentence
–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 -al 1

Related forms:
ma⋅ter⋅nal⋅ism, noun
ma⋅ter⋅nal⋅is⋅tic, adjective
ma⋅ter⋅nal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ma·ter·nal   (mə-tûr'nəl)   
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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

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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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ma·ter·nal
Pronunciation: m&-'t&rn-&l
Function: adjective
1 : of, relating to, belonging to, orcharacteristic of a mother <maternal instinct>
2 a : related through a mother maternal aunt> b : inherited or derived from thefemale parent <maternal genes> —ma·ter·nal·ly /-&l-E/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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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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