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motherly |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Motherly \Moth"er*ly\, adv In a manner of a mother. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: motherly adj : befitting a mother; warm and nurturing adv : in a maternal manner; as a mother; "she loved her students almost maternally" [syn: {maternally}]
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