maternal
Use Maternal in a sentence
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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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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]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —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
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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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.
Relating to or characteristic of a mother.
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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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
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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