plural maternities
Definition of maternity
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: the quality or state of being a mother : motherhood
b
: the qualities of a mother : motherliness
2
: a hospital facility designed for the care of women before and during childbirth and for the care of newborn babies
maternity
adjectiveDefinition of maternity (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: being or providing care during and immediately before and after childbirth
maternity care a maternity unit
2
: designed for wear during pregnancy
a maternity dress
3
: effective for the period close to and including childbirth
maternity leave
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for maternity
The first known use of maternity was in 1611
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