/meuh terr"ni tee/ , n.
1. the state of being a mother; motherhood.
2. motherly quality; motherliness.
3. a section of a hospital devoted to the care of women at childbirth and of their newborn infants.
adj.
4. of, pertaining to, or for the period in which a woman is pregnant or has just given birth to a child.
5. for mothers during and after childbirth or for the care of their newborn babies: a maternity hospital.
6. for wear by pregnant women: maternity clothes.
[ 1605-15; maternitas, equiv. to L matern ( us ) (see MATERNAL) + -itas -ITY ]