nonmaternal
|non/ma/ter/nal|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˌnɒn.məˈtɜːr.nəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒn.məˈtɜː.nəl/
not motherly
Etymology
Etymology Information
'nonmaternal' originates from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and the word 'maternal' from Latin 'maternalis', which means 'of a mother'.
Historical Evolution
'maternal' changed from the Latin word 'maternalis' and eventually became the modern English word 'maternal'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, 'maternal' meant 'of a mother', and 'nonmaternal' evolved to mean 'not of a mother'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not related to or characteristic of a mother or motherhood.
The nonmaternal caregiver provided excellent support to the child.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/02/16 18:15