Adjacent Words

Motherly definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

MOTHERLY, a. Pertaining to a mother; as motherly power or authority.
1. Becoming a mother; tender; parental; as motherly love or care.
MOTHERLY, adv. In the manner of a mother.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: befitting a mother; warm and nurturing adv
1: in a maternal manner; as a mother; "she loved her students almost maternally" [syn: maternally, motherly]

Merriam Webster's

adjective Date: before 12th century 1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a mother <motherly advice> 2. resembling a mother ; maternal • motherliness noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. 1 like or characteristic of a mother in affection, care, etc. 2 of or relating to a mother. Derivatives: motherliness n. Etymology: OE modorlic (as MOTHER)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Motherly Moth"er*ly, a. [AS. m[=o]dorlic.] Of or pertaining to a mother; like, or suitable for, a mother; tender; maternal; as, motherly authority, love, or care. --Hooker. Syn: Maternal; paternal. Usage: Motherly, Maternal. Motherly, being Anglo-Saxon, is the most familiar word of the two when both have the same meaning. Besides this, maternal is confined to the feelings of a mother toward her own children, whereas motherly has a secondary sense, denoting a care like that of a mother for her offspring. There is, perhaps, a growing tendency thus to separate the two, confining motherly to the latter signification. ``They termed her the great mother, for her motherly care in cherishing her brethren whilst young.'' --Sir W. Raleigh.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Motherly Moth"er*ly, adv. In a manner of a mother.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Motherly feelings or actions are like those of a kind mother. It was an incredible display of motherly love and forgiveness. = maternal ADJ: usu ADJ n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. 1. Maternal. 2. Maternal, affectionate, kind, tender, parental.