motherly
English
Etymology
From Middle English moderly, from Old English mōdorlīċ (“motherly, maternal”), from Proto-Germanic *mōdērlīkaz (“motherly, maternal”), equivalent to mother + -ly.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈmʌðəli/
Adjective
motherly (comparative more motherly, superlative most motherly)
- Befitting a mother; warm, caring, nurturing, protective, loving.
- 1945 August 17, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter 1, in Animal Farm: A Fairy Story, London: Secker & Warburg, OCLC 3655473:
- Clover was a stout motherly mare approaching middle life.
-
Derived terms
Translations
befitting a mother; warm, caring, nurturing, protective, loving
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.