Pertaining to a mother or to motherhood; proper to a mother; motherly: as, maternal love or authority; maternal pains or cares.Relating to or consisting of mothers; concerning the state of motherhood: as, a maternal association; a maternal hospital.Coming from or through a mother; imparted by or connected with one's mother: as, a maternal inheritance; a maternal uncle or cousin; maternal ancestry or lineage.Of or pertaining to the country of one's birth; native; vernacular.Synonyms Parental, etc. See motherly.