Materteral

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /məˈtɜːtəɹəl/
• (muh-TUHR-tuhr-uhl) mê-'te(r)-têr-êl

Full definition of materteral

Adjective

1. Pertaining to, or in the manner of, an aunt; feminine version of avuncular
• 1990 US, Peter Van Inwagen, Material Beings, Cornell University Press, ISBN 0801483069, p. 9,It may be that stipulations about parts and wholes are, in some way that undermines my materteral analogies, unlike stipulations about aunts and legacies.
• 2004 UK, Saif Rahman, Archipelago, Twenty First Century Publishers Ltd, ISBN 1904433227, p. 150,Only some insistent pleading (materteral rather than avuncular) had changed their mind.
• 2006 US, R. D. Chrisman, Cathedral Ledge, AuthorHouse, ISBN 1425907865, p. 123It pleased her to see Aunt Maude waiting tables. Smiling to herself, Alice reflected that Maude was materteral ... like a kindly aunt.
• 5 October 2013, Bee Rowlatt, Japan's new luxury sleeper train [print edition: Suite surrender on the rails], A materteral lady told me that people come here from the city in search of peace.

Coordinate terms

• avuncular – uncle
• maternal – mother
• paternal – father