maternal

Where does the word "maternal" come from? It comes from Latin maternus, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Maternal’s story begins in Latin: maternus meant “relating to a mother.” Relating to a mother, from mater (mother). It reached English by 1400s as maternal. Settled as the English word for relating to a mother. Today, maternal means relating to a mother, or characteristic of a mother's care.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient maternus "relating to a mother", relating to a mother, from mater (mother).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s maternal "relating to a mother, or motherly", settled as the English word for relating to a mother.