maternal

ma-ter-nal · adjective

imported

Definitions

adjective

  1. 1.

    Relating to or characteristic of a mother; motherly.

  2. 2.

    Related through one's mother.

  3. 3.

    (medicine) Relating to the mother during pregnancy or childbirth.

Related words

Antonyms: paternal
See also: maternity, motherly, paternal
Synonyms: motherly, nurturing, protective

Etymology

From Latin maternus, from mater (mother).