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maternal

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The definition of maternal is something related to or characteristic of a mother, such as motherly instincts or relatives from a mother's side of the family.

(adjective)

An example of maternal is rocking a baby to sleep.
An example of maternal is your grandmother on your mother's side.

See maternal in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

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

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

Related Forms:

maternally adverb

See maternal in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Relating to or characteristic of a mother or motherhood; motherly: maternal instinct.
Inherited from one's mother: a maternal trait.
Related through one's mother: my maternal uncle.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French maternel

Origin: , from Medieval Latin māternālis

Origin: , from Latin māternus

Origin: , from māter, mother; see māter- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: