— motherliness , n.
/mudh"euhr lee/ , adj.
1. pertaining to, characteristic of, or befitting a mother; maternal: motherly solicitude.
2. like a mother: to take a motherly interest in an orphan.
adv.
3. in the manner of a mother.
[ bef. 1000; ME moderly, OE modorlic. See MOTHER 1 , -LY ]