1. maternity(n = noun.state) gestation, pregnancy - the state of being pregnant; the period from conception to birth when a woman carries a developing fetus in her uterus; Array
is a kind of physical condition, physiological condition, physiological state
has parts: cleavage, segmentation, quickening, childbed, confinement, labor, labour, lying-in, parturiency, travail, morning sickness
has particulars: trouble, gravidation, gravidity, gravidness, gravida, para, parity, eccyesis, ectopic gestation, ectopic pregnancy, extrauterine gestation, extrauterine pregnancy, metacyesis, entopic pregnancy, placenta previa
2. maternity(n = noun.linkdef) motherhood - the kinship relation between an offspring and the mother; Array
is a kind of family relationship, kinship, relationship
3. maternity(n = noun.attribute) maternal quality, maternalism, motherliness - the quality of having or showing the tenderness and warmth and affection of or befitting a mother; "the girl's motherliness made her invaluable in caring for the children"
is a kind of parental quality
Derived form adjective maternal1
1. The state of being a mother; motherhood. [1913 Webster]
2. The character of a mother; maternal quality; motherliness. [1913 Webster]
3. The maternity ward; the maternity department of a hospital. [PJC]
1. Of or pertaining to childbirth or the period during which a woman is pregnant; as, maternity care; a maternity hospital. [PJC]
2. For use during pregnancy; as, a maternity outfit. [PJC]
maternity, n.
1 motherhood.
2 motherliness.
3 (attrib.) a for women during and just after childbirth (maternity hospital; maternity leave). b suitable for a pregnant woman (maternity dress; maternity wear).
Etymology:
F maternit{eacute} f. med.L maternitas -tatis f. L maternus f. mater mother
N paternity, parentage, consanguinity, parent, father, sire, dad, papa, paterfamilias, abba, genitor, progenitor, procreator, ancestor, grandsire, grandfather, great- grandfather, fathership, fatherhood, mabap, house, stem, trunk, tree, stock, stirps, pedigree, lineage, line, family, tribe, sept, race, clan, genealogy, descent, extraction, birth, ancestry, forefathers, forbears, patriarchs, motherhood, maternity, mother, dam, mamma, materfamilias, grandmother, paternal, parental, maternal, family, ancestral, linear, patriarchal, avi numerantur avorum, happy he with such a mother, hombre bueno no le busquen abolengo, philosophia stemma non inspicit.