MOTHERLY
motherly
(adjective) befitting a mother; warm and nurturing
maternally, motherly
(adverb) in a maternal manner; as a mother; “she loved her students almost maternally”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
motherly (comparative more motherly, superlative most motherly)
Befitting a mother; warm, caring, nurturing, protective, loving.
Source: Wiktionary
Moth"er*ly, a. Etym: [AS. modorlic.]
Definition: Of or pertaining to a mother; like, or suitable for, a mother;
tender; maternal; as, motherly authority, love, or care. Hooker.
Syn.
– Maternal; paternal.
– Motherly, Maternal. Motherly, being Anglo-Saxon, is the most
familiar word of the two when both have the same meaning. Besides
this, maternal is confined to the feelings of a mother toward her own
children, whereas motherly has a secondary sense, denoting a care
like that of a mother for her offspring. There is, perhaps, a growing
tendency thus to separate the two, confining motherly to the latter
signification. "They termed her the great mother, for her motherly
care in cherishing her brethren whilst young." Sir W. Raleigh.
Moth"er*ly, adv.
Definition: In a manner of a mother.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition