mater
[mey-ter]
- British Informal. mother1.
- the backing holding the movable parts of an astrolabe.
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Origin of mater
First recorded in 1585–95, mater is from the Latin word māter
mater dolorosa
[mah-ter doh-loh-roh-sah; English mey-ter doh-luh-roh-suh]
- the sorrowful mother.
- (initial capital letters) the mother of Christ sorrowing for her son.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
dingylacklustermurkyshadowyfaintcloudydarkgloomyfuzzydullvagueblurredgrayduskovercastfadedobscuredpalematmutedExamples from the Web for mater
Contemporary Examples
And then there's Laurie (Amy Brenneman), the Garveys' mater familias.
Now she, along with Jean Kennedy Smith, is also Mater Familias to the grieving clan.
Jimmy is rooting for Arizona State this year since his alma mater, UNLV, didn't get a bid.
Historical Examples
Dad and the mater both say the same now—they're more severe than I was.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
"The mater told me you'd another thing on the stocks," Geoff went on.
The Education of Eric LaneStephen McKenna
The mater learned it this afternoon and sprung it at dinner.
Cap'n Warren's WardsJoseph C. Lincoln
Don't let the Mater and Pater get the wind up about my personal safety.
War Letters of a Public-School BoyPaul Jones.
Of course you are going to the mater's with Miss Lindsey and me for tea, per usual?
Blue-grass and BroadwayMaria Thompson Daviess
mater
- British public school slang, often facetious a word for mother 1
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin
mater dolorosa
- the Virgin Mary sorrowing for the dead Christ, esp as depicted in art
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Word Origin
Latin: sorrowful mother
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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