motherlinessn.
/ˈmʌðəlɪnᵻs/, U.S. /ˈməðərlinᵻs/ The quality of being motherly.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinsman or relation > parent > mother > motherhood > [noun] > motherly quality
motherlinessa1637
maternality1721
maternalness1727
maternity1804
maternalism1892
a1637 B. Jonson Eng. Gram. i. vii, in Wks. (1640) III [The word is accented] mótherlinesse.
1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II Maternalness, motherliness, motherly Affection.
1856 D. M. Mulock John Halifax III. xi. 280 The sweet motherliness of character which had come to her so early.
1882 Spectator 18 Mar. 345 The people will be deeply touched both by its piety and motherliness.
1922 E. von Arnim Enchanted April (1989) 205 Mrs Arbuthnot had that fatal flavour of motherliness about her, of wanting to pet one, to make one very comfortable, coaxing one to eat.
1989 D. Koontz Midnight I. iii. 17 There was no softness or motherliness about her any more.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.a1637