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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Motherliness

Motherliness \Moth"er*li*ness\, n. The state or quality of being motherly.

Wiktionary
motherliness

n. The property of being motherly.

WordNet
motherliness

n. 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" [syn: maternalism, maternal quality, maternity]

Usage examples of "motherliness".

Toward Rand her motherliness extended to warm smiles and a quick snack whenever he came by the inn, but she did as much for every young man in the area.

Glenna, her own children long grown and independent on other worlds, approached motherliness sometimes in her attitude.

Upon which muddled speech she tucked him in with a brisk motherliness and started off down the ward.

At this idea she experienced a terrible heart-pang, and a feeling of motherliness came upon her, so acute that it was like a revelation.

And so, however much she may wish to abandon the child, we leave it near her as long as possible, and feed it with the bottle, in the hope that the sight of the poor little creature may touch her heart and awaken feelings of motherliness in her.

No doubt a thought that she might have had other children than Maurice came back to her in certain bitter hours of unconscious self-examination, when from the depths of her being, in which feelings of motherliness awakened, there rose vague fear, sudden dread, such as she had never known before.

Yet, good mother that she had always been, she suffered all the torment of motherliness exasperated, poisoned by the loss of her child.

Hyde had no children of her own, but the very spirit of motherliness seemed to look out of her eyes, and she took the two strangers into her heart at sight.

Ercott felt that jealous twinge, soon lost this time in the motherliness of a childless woman for her husband.

There was so much motherliness and full-heartedness even in the way she passed a plate of cakes or poured a cup of coffee, that it seemed to put a spirit into the food and drink she offered.

The dark woman bent over the baby and made silent, gentle movements of motherliness to it.

An unexpected motherliness in her manner coupled with an unequivocal and protective menace dispatched the men to their tasks and further postponed the squall of questions that had been brewing all day.

Fevvers, with impersonal motherliness, took his curly head in her arms and pillowed it on her bosom.

That kind of strength usually reflected inner strength, but he had been so deceived by her warmth, her softness, her motherliness, that he had not noticed it.

With a grave elder-sisterly air she felt all over the baby-limbs, and when Maud set up an indignant cry, began hushing her with so quaint an imitation of motherliness, that we were all amused.