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Maternity  The State Noun Quality Care Women Mother 

Title maternity
Text
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
ma·ter·ni·ty
I

 \\mə-ˈtər-nə-tē\\ noun 
(plural -ties)
 DATE  1611
1.
  a. 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

II
adjective
 DATE  1893
1. designed for wear during pregnancy
    a maternity dress
2. effective for the period close to and including childbirth
    maternity leave
English Etymology
maternity
  1611, "quality or condition of being a mother," from Fr. maternité"motherhood," from M.L. maternitatem (nom. maternitas), from L.maternus (see maternal). Used from 1893 in ref. to garments designed for pregnant women.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7
maternity
ma·ter·nity / mE5tE:nEti; NAmE -5tE:rn- / noun[U]
   the state of being or becoming a mother
   母亲身分;怀孕:
   maternity clothes (= clothes for women who are pregnant) 
   孕妇装 
   a maternity ward / hospital (= one where women go to give birth to their babies) 
   产科病房;妇产医院 
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged
ma·ter·ni·ty
I. \məˈtərnəd.ē, -tə̄n-, -təin-, -nətē, -i\ noun
(-es)
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: French maternité, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin maternitat-, maternitas quality or state of being a mother church, from Latin maternus of a mother, maternal + -itat-, -itas -ity
1. 
 a. 
  (1) : the quality or state of being a mother : 
motherhood
  (2) : the quality or state of being pregnant
   < successive maternities >
 b. : the qualities belonging to or associated with motherhood :
motherliness
, 
maternalism
2. : a hospital or a section of a hospital designed for the care of women immediately before and during childbirth and for the care of newborn babies
3. : a usually loose or adjustable garment worn during pregnancy
II. adjective
Etymology: maternity, noun
1. : designed for wear during pregnancy 
 < a maternity dress >
2. : effective for the period close to and including childbirth 
 < maternity leave >

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