Dictionary
ma•ter•nal
Pronunciation: (mu-tûr'nl), [key]—
adj.
1. of, pertaining to, having the qualities of, or befitting a mother:
maternal instincts.
2. related through a mother:
his maternal aunt.
3. derived from a mother:
maternal genes. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.