Maternal Definition

mə-tûrnəl
adjective
Of, like, or characteristic of a mother or motherhood; motherly.
Webster's New World
Derived, received, or inherited from a mother.
Webster's New World
Related through the mother's side of the family.
Maternal grandparents.
Webster's New World
Pertaining to one’s mother.
Webster's New World Law
Synonyms:
Antonyms:

Origin of Maternal

  • Middle English from Old French maternel from Medieval Latin māternālis from Latin māternus from māter mother māter- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle French maternel or post-Classical Latin māternālis (“maternal"), from māternus (“maternal"), from māter (“mother").

    From Wiktionary

Maternal Sentence Examples

  • Regardless of how irresponsible the woman was, she presumably possessed natural maternal instincts for her child.

  • You promise to tell me if your maternal instinct kicks in?

  • Was she filling a maternal role?

  • The apical senseorgan is used for temporary attachment to the maternal vestibule in which development takes place, but permanent fixation is effected by the oral surface.

  • Tiberius, however, soon became tired of the maternal yoke; his retirement to Capreae is said to have been caused by his desire to escape from her.

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Words Starting With

MMAMAT

Words Ending With

LALNAL

Unscrambles

maternal

Words Starting With M and Ending With L

Starts With M & Ends With LStarts With MA & Ends With LStarts With M & Ends With AL

Word Length

8 Letter Words8 Letter Words Starting With M8 Letter Words Ending With L