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View synonyms for

maternal

[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.



maternal

/ əˈɜːə /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, derived from, or characteristic of a mother

  2. related through the mother's side of the family

    his maternal uncle

“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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Other Word Forms

  • maternalism noun
  • maternalistic adjective
  • maternally adverb
  • nonmaternal adjective
  • nonmaternally adverb
  • quasi-maternal adjective
  • quasi-maternally adverb
  • unmaternal adjective
  • unmaternally adverb
  • ˈٱԲ adverb
  • ˈٱԲ noun
  • ˌٱԲˈپ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of maternal1

1475–85; < Medieval Latin ٱ, equivalent to Latin ٱ ( us ) ( ٱ mother 1 + -nus adj. suffix) + - -al 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of maternal1

C15: from Medieval Latin ٱ, from Latin ٱus, from ٱ mother
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The men consider Bridgewater their grandmother, though she’s really their maternal grandmother’s best friend.

From

As maternal figures go, she doesn’t get much warmer than advising Eve to take care of a toe injury “before you get sepsis and we have to cut off your foot.”

From

So the opportunity to travel with his mother to his maternal grandmother’s village was “kind of a full-circle moment” for his family, Nacua said Tuesday.

From

"All of our evidence shows us that maternal suicide remains a major killer in the maternity period," she said.

From

Among the other common causes of maternal deaths are obstructed labour, high blood pressure and unsafe abortions.

From

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ématernalize