Maternal

Pronunciation: /məˈtɜːrnəl/

Definitions of maternal

adjective relating to a mother, especially in terms of care, protection, and guidance

Example Sentences

A1 She has a strong maternal instinct towards her younger siblings.

A2 The maternal bond between a mother and her child is unbreakable.

B1 Her maternal grandmother always made sure to spoil her grandchildren with love and treats.

B2 The maternal mortality rate in developing countries is a major concern for global health organizations.

C1 Her maternal instincts kicked in as soon as she held her newborn baby for the first time.

C2 The author's writing often explores themes of maternal love and sacrifice.

Examples of maternal in a Sentence

formal The maternal instinct is strong in many species, including humans.

informal My maternal grandmother always bakes the best cookies.

slang She's like the maternal figure of our friend group, always looking out for everyone.

figurative The company's CEO took on a maternal role, guiding and nurturing the employees like a mother would.

Grammatical Forms of maternal

• past tense: mothered
• plural: maternals
• comparative: more maternal
• superlative: most maternal
• present tense: mothers
• future tense: will mother
• perfect tense: have mothered
• continuous tense: is mothering
• singular: maternal
• positive degree: maternal
• infinitive: to mother
• gerund: mothering
• participle: mothered

Origin and Evolution of maternal

First Known Use: 0015 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'maternal' originated from the Latin word 'maternalis', which is derived from the Latin word 'mater' meaning mother.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'maternal' has retained its original meaning related to motherhood and has also come to encompass qualities associated with motherly care, nurturing, and protection.