Maternal
[mə'tɜːn(ə)l] or [mə'tɝnl]
Definition
(adj.) characteristic of a mother; 'warm maternal affection for her guest'- Dorothy Sayers .
(adj.) relating to or derived from one's mother; 'maternal genes' .
Inputed by Celia--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) Of or pertaining to a mother; becoming to a mother; motherly; as, maternal love; maternal tenderness.
Typed by Ewing
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. Motherly.
Typed by Bush
Definition
adj. belonging to a mother: motherly.—adv. Mater′nally.—n. Mater′nity the state character or relation of a mother: motherhood: a lying-in hospital.
Typed by Lillian
Examples
- The broken-spirited, old, maternal grandfather was likewise subject to the little tyrant. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- So the maternal admonition seemed rather to fail of effect. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- Idris stood at a window that over-looked the park; her maternal eyes sought her own children among the young crowd. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- But stronger than all was maternal love, wrought into a paroxysm of frenzy by the near approach of a fearful danger. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- They were not thin hands, or small hands; but powerful, feminine, maternal hands. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- Mrs. March laughed, and smoothed down her maternal pride as she asked, Well, my swan, what is your plan? Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- My mother, though highly exasperating to the feelings, is actuated by maternal dictates. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- It does my heart good to see them forget business and frolic for a day, answered Jo, who now spoke in a maternal way of all mankind. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- In every argument with her mother, Susan had in point of reason the advantage, and never was there any maternal tenderness to buy her off. Jane Austen. Mansfield Park.
- Miss Ophelia had several times tried to awaken her maternal fears about Eva; but to no avail. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- The real solicitude now awakened in the maternal bosom was not soon over. Jane Austen. Mansfield Park.
- I leave her to describe the circumstances (if she has not done so already) under which she introduced me to the object of her maternal care. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- You should do just what your grandfather wishes, my dear boy, said Meg in her most maternal tone. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- Good mothers are married over again at their daughters' weddings: and as for subsequent events, who does not know how ultra-maternal grandmothers are? William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- All through the stress of the struggle with him, she had been conscious of something faintly maternal in her efforts to guide and uplift him. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- This was Mrs Plornish, and this maternal action was the action of Mrs Plornish during a large part of her waking existence. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- I didn't know what it was to be a mother; unfeeling thing that I was, the sensibilities of the maternal heart were Greek and Hebrew to me, and so on. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- That's exactly what Ma has been doing,' interposed Lavvy, over the maternal shoulder, 'ever since we got up this morning. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- She saw with maternal complacency all the impertinent encroachments and mischievous tricks to which her cousins submitted. Jane Austen. Sense and Sensibility.
- Often with maternal affection she had figured their merits and talents exerted on life's wide stage. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- Her existence was a maternal caress. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Maternal feeling now awoke in my poor girl's bosom, and she asked: And Alfred? Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- The word 'Mother' suggested other maternal counsels given long ago, and received with unbelieving protests. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
Typed by Lillian