ma·ter·nal 
(mə-tûrnəl)
(mə-tûrnəl)adj.
1. Relating to or characteristic of a mother or motherhood; motherly: maternal instinct.
2. Inherited from one's mother: a maternal trait.
3. Related through one's mother: my maternal uncle.
[Middle English, from Old French maternel, from Medieval Latin māternālis, from Latin māternus, from māter, mother; see māter- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
ma·ternal·ism n.
ma·ternal·ly adv.