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maternity definition

ma·ter·nity (mə tʉr′nə tē)

noun pl. maternities -·ties

  1. the state of being a mother; motherhood
  2. the character or qualities of a mother; motherliness
  3. a maternity ward in a hospital

Etymology: Fr maternité < ML maternitas < L maternus, maternal

adjective

  1. for a woman when pregnant or around the time of giving birth maternity dress, maternity leave
  2. for the care of women giving birth and of newborn babies a maternity ward

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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