maternal — relating to or characteristic of a mother or motherhood
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: relating to or characteristic of a mother or motherhood
Pronunciation (IPA): /məˈtɜːrnəl/
Example Sentences
- My maternal grandfather was a pizza chef, so family dinners were always delicious.
- She showed maternal concern for her students, always asking if they had eaten lunch.
- Even my cat shows maternal behavior toward her toy mice.
maternal
ADJECTIVE[/məˈtɜːrnəl/]
relating to or characteristic of a mother or motherhood
Her maternal instinct made her protect the frightened child immediately.
Her maternal love helped the orphan feel at home.
Maternal love becomes internal and eternal.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Maternal derives from Latin mater, meaning 'mother'. The term has been used since ancient Rome to denote qualities, relationships, and characteristics associated with motherhood and maternal care.
Breakdown
mater- (mother) + -al (adjective suffix meaning 'relating to' or 'of the nature of'), forming an adjective that describes anything pertaining to or characteristic of a mother.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My maternal grandfather was a pizza chef, so family dinners were always delicious.”
“She showed maternal concern for her students, always asking if they had eaten lunch.”
“Even my cat shows maternal behavior toward her toy mice.”
“His maternal aunt always sends him homemade cookies on his birthday.”
📚Related Words
Antonyms
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