maternal

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

• (UK) IPA^(key): /məˈtɜːnəl/
• (US) enPR: mə-tû(r)'nəl, IPA^(key): /məˈtɜɹnəl/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)nəl

maternal (comparative more maternal, superlative most maternal)

1. Of or pertaining to a mother; having the characteristics of a mother, motherly.

   His weakness seemed to bring out her maternal instincts.

2. (attributive) Related through the mother, or her side of the family.

   Toby is my maternal uncle.

3. (anatomy, medicine) Derived from the mother as opposed to the foetus during pregnancy.

• paternal – father

• avuncular – uncle
• materteral – aunt
• paternal – father

• Alterman

• (Balearic) IPA^(key): /mə.təɾˈnal/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /mə.tərˈnal/
• (Valencian) IPA^(key): /ma.teɾˈnal/

maternal (masculine and feminine plural maternals)

1. Synonym of matern

• paternal

• “maternal” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

• Hyphenation: ma‧ter‧nal

maternal m or f (plural maternais, comparable)

1. maternal (of or relating to mothers)

• materno

maternal m (plural maternais)

1. a school for young children

• IPA^(key): /materˈnal/, [mat̪erˈnal]
• Hyphenation: ma‧ter‧nal

maternal (plural maternales)

1. Synonym of materno

• paternal

• “maternal” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.