maternal Hear it!

maternal definition

ma·ter·nal (mə tʉr′nəl)

adjective

  1. of, like, or characteristic of a mother or motherhood; motherly
  2. derived, received, or inherited from a mother
  3. related through the mother's side of the family maternal grandparents

Etymology: ME < MFr maternel < L maternus < mater, mother

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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