maternity — [mə tʉr′nə tē] n. pl. maternities [Fr maternité < ML maternitas < L maternus, MATERNAL] 1. the state of being a mother; motherhood 2. the character or qualities of a mother; motherliness 3. a maternity ward in a hospital adj. 1. for a woman … English World dictionary
maternity — ma*ter ni*ty, a. 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] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Maternity — Ma*ter ni*ty, n. [F. maternit[ e], LL. maternitas.] 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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Maternity — Episodio de House Un bebé recién nacido vomita. Solo House piensa que es una infección intrahospitalaria. Título Maternity … Wikipedia Español
maternity — ► NOUN 1) motherhood. 2) (before another noun ) relating to the period during pregnancy and shortly after childbirth: maternity clothes … English terms dictionary
maternity — (n.) 1610s, quality or condition of being a mother, from Fr. maternité motherhood (15c.), from M.L. maternitatem (nom. maternitas) motherhood, from L. maternus (see MATERNAL (Cf. maternal)). Used from 1893 as a quasi adjective in reference to… … Etymology dictionary
maternity — [n] period of being pregnant with child gestation, maternology, motherhood, parenthood; concepts 316,817 Ant. paternity … New thesaurus
maternity — [[t]mətɜ͟ː(r)nɪti[/t]] 1) ADJ: ADJ n Maternity is used to describe things relating to the help and medical care given to a woman when she is pregnant and when she gives birth. Your job will be kept open for your return after maternity leave...… … English dictionary
maternity — Motherhood. [see maternal] * * * ma·ter·ni·ty mə tər nət ē n, pl ties a hospital facility designed for the care of women before and during childbirth and for the care of newborn babies maternity adj 1) being or providing care during and… … Medical dictionary
maternity — noun a) The state of being a mother; motherhood. b) The state of being pregnant; pregnancy. Syn: maternity ward Ant: paternity … Wiktionary