Maternalise

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To give something a nurturing, caring quality typical of a mother, or to make a situation or role take on such a character
2. To cause someone or something to adopt the protective, nurturing qualities associated with mothers
3. To render a thing motherly in its manner, tone or treatment of others

Etymology: "Maternalise" is the British spelling of "maternalize", and it is a plain formation: the adjective "maternal", from Latin "maternus" (of a mother, from "mater"), with the verb-forming suffix "-ize" added to it, from Greek "-izein". The suffix turns a quality into an action, so to maternalise something is to make it maternal, or to treat or shape it in a motherly way. Its meaning follows directly from its parts: "maternal" describes the qualities and duties of a mother, and "-ise" carries the sense of bringing about that condition.

Synonyms: maternalize

Antonyms: paternalise