a. 母亲的

Motherly \Moth"er*ly\, a. [AS. m[=o]dorlic.]
Of or pertaining to a mother; like, or suitable for, a
mother; tender; maternal; as, motherly authority, love, or
care. --Hooker.

Syn: Maternal; paternal.

Usage: {Motherly}, {Maternal}. Motherly, being Anglo-Saxon,
is the most familiar word of the two when both have
the same meaning. Besides this, maternal is confined
to the feelings of a mother toward her own children,
whereas motherly has a secondary sense, denoting a
care like that of a mother for her offspring. There
is, perhaps, a growing tendency thus to separate the
two, confining motherly to the latter signification.
``They termed her the great mother, for her motherly
care in cherishing her brethren whilst young.'' --Sir
W. Raleigh.


Motherly \Moth"er*ly\, adv.
In a manner of a mother.