- motherliness, maternalism, maternal quality, maternity - the quality of having or showing the tenderness and warmth and affection of or befitting a mother; "the girl's motherliness made her invaluable in caring for the children"
--1 is a kind of parental quality
- maternalism - motherly care; behavior characteristic of a mother; the practice of acting as a mother does toward her children
--2 is a kind of care, attention, aid, tending