1. (

• maternal

) characteristic of a mother; "warm maternal affection for her guest"- Dorothy Sayers ;

2. (

• maternal

) relating to or derived from one's mother; "maternal genes" ;

3. (

• parental ,
• maternal ,
• paternal ,

) relating to or characteristic of or befitting a parent; "parental guidance" ;

4. (

• enate ,
• enatic ,
• maternal

) related on the mother's side; "my maternal grandmother" ;