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maternal

ma·ter·nal
M m

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [muh-tur-nl]
    • /məˈtɜr nl/
    • /məˈtɜː.nəl/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [muh-tur-nl]
    • /məˈtɜr nl/

Definitions of maternal word

  • adjective maternal of, pertaining to, having the qualities of, or befitting a mother: maternal instincts. 1
  • adjective maternal related through a mother: his maternal aunt. 1
  • adjective maternal derived from a mother: maternal genes. 1
  • noun maternal Of or relating to a mother, especially during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth. 1
  • adjective maternal nurturing, caring 1
  • adjective maternal relating to mothers 1

Information block about the term

Origin of maternal

First appearance:

before 1475
One of the 25% oldest English words
1475-85; < Medieval Latin māternālis, equivalent to Latin mātern(us) (māter mother1 + -nus adj. suffix) + -ālis -al1

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Maternal

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

maternal popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 88% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

maternal usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for maternal

adj maternal

  • parental — of or relating to a parent.
  • affectionate — If you are affectionate, you show your love or fondness for another person in the way that you behave towards them.
  • kind — of a good or benevolent nature or disposition, as a person: a kind and loving person.
  • protective — having the quality or function of protecting: a protective covering.
  • sympathetic — characterized by, proceeding from, exhibiting, or feeling sympathy; sympathizing; compassionate: a sympathetic listener.

adjective maternal

  • motherly — pertaining to, characteristic of, or befitting a mother; maternal: motherly solicitude.
  • nurturing — to feed and protect: to nurture one's offspring.
  • caring — If someone is caring, they are affectionate, helpful, and sympathetic.
  • guiding — to assist (a person) to travel through, or reach a destination in, an unfamiliar area, as by accompanying or giving directions to the person: He guided us through the forest.
  • devoted — Someone who is devoted to a person loves that person very much.

Antonyms for maternal

adj maternal

  • paternal — characteristic of or befitting a father; fatherly: a kind and paternal reprimand.

adjective maternal

  • neglectful — characterized by neglect; disregardful; careless; negligent (often followed by of): neglectful of one's health.
  • uncaring — a state of mind in which one is troubled; worry, anxiety, or concern: He was never free from care.

Top questions with maternal

  • what does maternal mean?
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See also

Matching words

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