maternally

Meanings

1. 1adverbnot comparableformal

   In a way that relates to or comes from a mother, or on the mother's side of the family.

   Grammar: Not comparable; often modifies a participle: maternally inherited.

   Patterns

   • maternally related to someone
   • maternally inherited

   Mitochondrial DNA is inherited maternally.

   They are maternally related, since their mothers were sisters.

   The trait appears to be maternally linked in this family.

2. 2adverbnot comparable

   In a caring, protective manner like that of a mother.

   Grammar: Not comparable; follows a verb: she fussed maternally.

   Patterns

   • act maternally toward someone

   She smiled maternally at the nervous new student.

   The older nurse tucked in the blanket maternally.

Common combinations

maternally inherited

The condition is maternally inherited and passes through the mother.

maternally related

The cousins are maternally related.

act maternally

He teased her for acting maternally toward the team.

maternally descended

The family is maternally descended from a royal line.

Synonyms and how they differ

motherly

Motherly is an adjective, while maternally is the adverb form and is more formal.

protectively

Protectively does not need any link to motherhood, while maternally strongly suggests it.

on the mother's side

On the mother's side is everyday phrasing and is less technical than maternally.

Opposites

Word family

maternal adjective

relating to a mother

maternity noun

the state of being a mother

maternalism noun

a caring, protective attitude of a mother

paternally adverb

in a way that relates to a father

Commonly confused: maternally or paternally?

Practice

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