Where does “motherly” come from?
Motherly derives from Middle English moderly, Old English mōdorlīċ, and Proto-Germanic mōdērlīkaz, a compound formation meaning mother-like.
motherly (English): Befitting a mother; warm, caring, nurturing,...
Definitions
- Befitting a mother; warm, caring, nurturing,...
Ancestry of “motherly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | moderly | Motherly; pertaining to, befitting, or of a... |
| 2 | Old English | mōdorlīċ | motherly, maternal |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | mōdērlīkaz | motherly, maternal |
Words derived from “motherly”