maternal
[ muh-tur-nl ]
adjective
of, pertaining to, having the qualities of, or befitting a mother: maternal instincts.
related through a mother: his maternal aunt.
derived from a mother: maternal genes.
Origin of maternal
1Other words from maternal
- 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 Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use maternal in a sentence
Esmé patted the other's head with an absurd and delightful affectation of maternalism.
The Clarion | Samuel Hopkins Adams
British Dictionary definitions for maternal
maternal
/ (məˈtɜːnəl) /
adjective
of, relating to, derived from, or characteristic of a mother
related through the mother's side of the family: his maternal uncle
Origin of maternal
1C15: from Medieval Latin māternālis, from Latin māternus, from māter mother
Derived forms of maternal
- maternalism, noun
- maternalistic, adjective
- maternally, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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