mothering

[ muhth -er-ing ]

/ ˈmʌð ər ɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR mothering ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the nurturing of an infant or small child by its mother.

(in rural England) the custom of visiting one's parents on Laetare Sunday with a present.

Nearby words

mother-out-law, motherboard, motherese, motherfucker, motherhood, mothering, mothering sunday, motherland, motherless, motherly, motherwell

Origin of mothering

First recorded in 1640–50; mother¹ + -ing¹

Definition for mothering (2 of 2)

mother

[ muhth-er ]

/ ˈmʌð ər /

noun

a female parent.

(often initial capital letter) one's female parent.

a mother-in-law, stepmother, or adoptive mother.

a term of address for a female parent or a woman having or regarded as having the status, function, or authority of a female parent.

a term of familiar address for an old or elderly woman.

mother superior.

a woman exercising control, influence, or authority like that of a mother: to be a mother to someone.

the qualities characteristic of a mother, as maternal affection: It is the mother in her showing itself.

something or someone that gives rise to or exercises protecting care over something else; origin or source.

(in disc recording) a mold from which stampers are made.

adjective

being a mother: a mother bird.

of, relating to, or characteristic of a mother: mother love.

derived from or as if from one's mother; native: his mother culture.

bearing a relation like that of a mother, as in being the origin, source, or protector: the mother company and its affiliates; the mother computer and its network of terminals.

verb (used with object)

to be the mother of; give origin or rise to.

to acknowledge oneself the author of; assume as one's own.

to care for or protect like a mother; act maternally toward.

verb (used without object)

to perform the tasks or duties of a female parent; act maternally: a woman with a need to mother.

Origin of mother

before 900; Middle English mother, moder, Old English mōdor; cognate with Dutch moeder, German Mutter, Old Norse mōthir, Latin māter, Greek mḗtēr, Sanskrit mātar-. As in father, th was substituted for d, possibly on the model of brother

SYNONYMS FOR mother

17 tend, nurse, mind, raise.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR mother ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

moth·er·less, adjectivemoth·er·less·ness, nounun·moth·ered, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for mothering

They are now raising a 5-year-old boy who Jennifer is incapable of mothering.
California Police Ignored, Mishandled Sex Assaults Reported by Disabled|Ryan Gabrielson|November 29, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But the problem, says Badinter, is how those values have changed—morphing into a style of mothering she calls “crushing.”
Elisabeth Badinter’s ‘The Conflict’: Does Modern Motherhood Undermine Women?|Jessica Bennett|April 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST
And then, of course, there was poor Hester Prynne—branded with a scarlet letter for mothering a child with another man.
Is Cheating the Secret to a Happy Marriage?|Jessica Bennett|October 11, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Katie continued to blog in excruciating detail, chronicling the worst parenting experience of them all—mothering a dying child.
A Mommy Blog's Heartbreaking Turn|K. Emily Bond|October 6, 2010|DAILY BEAST

If it was never proven that she came of gentlefolks, Laurent Giffard would hardly consent to his wife's mothering her.
A Little Girl in Old Quebec|Amanda Millie Douglas
The mothering of a lion cub has its disadvantages, and thereafter her milk of human kindness overflowed no more.
The Song of the Wolf|Frank Mayer
In Gloucestershire simnel cakes are still common; and at Usk, Monmouth, the custom of mothering is still scrupulously observed.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 16, Slice 4|Various
Children away from home write to their parents on Mothering Sunday if unable to get home.
Weather and Folk Lore of Peterborough and District|Charles Dack
He was now well able to take care of himself, although Stella insisted in "mothering" him when she was in camp.
Ted Strong's Motor Car|Edward C. Taylor

British Dictionary definitions for mothering (1 of 2)

mother

/ (ˈmʌðə) /

noun

a female who has given birth to offspring
(as modifier)a mother bird

(often capital, esp as a term of address) a person's own mother

a female substituting in the function of a mother

(often capital) mainly archaic a term of address for an old woman

motherly qualities, such as maternal affectionit appealed to the mother in her
(as modifier)mother love
(in combination)mothercraft

a female or thing that creates, nurtures, protects, etc, something
(as modifier)mother church; mother earth

a title given to certain members of female religious ordersmother superior

Christian Science God as the eternal Principle

(modifier) native or innatemother wit

offensive, taboo, slang, mainly US short for motherfucker offensive

be mother to pour the teaI'll be mother

the mother of all … informal the greatest example of its kindthe mother of all parties

verb (tr)

to give birth to or produce

to nurture, protect, etc as a mother

Related forms

Related adjective: maternal

Derived Forms

mothering, noun

Word Origin for mother

Old English mōdor; compare Old Saxon mōdar, Old High German muotar, Latin māter, Greek mētēr

British Dictionary definitions for mothering (2 of 2)

mother

/ (ˈmʌðə) /

noun

a stringy slime containing various bacteria that forms on the surface of liquids undergoing acetous fermentation. It can be added to wine, cider, etc to promote vinegar formationAlso called: mother of vinegar

Derived Forms

mothery, adjective

Word Origin for mother

C16: perhaps from mother 1, but compare Spanish madre scum, Dutch modder dregs, Middle Low German modder decaying object, mudde sludge

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for mothering

mother

[ mŭð′ər ]

n.

A woman who conceives, gives birth to, or raises and nurtures a child.

A female parent of an animal.

A structure, such as a mother cell, from which other similar bodies are formed.

Idioms and Phrases with mothering

mother

In addition to the idiom beginning with mother

mother of

also see:

necessity is the mother of invention