the state of being pregnant; the period from conception to birth when a woman carries a developing fetus in her uterus
the kinship relation between an offspring and the mother
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"
中英词源
maternity 母亲身份，怀孕
来自maternal,母亲的，-ity,名词后缀。比喻用法。
maternity (n.)
1610s, "quality or condition of being a mother," from French maternité "motherhood" (15c.), from Medieval Latin maternitatem (nominative maternitas) "motherhood," from Latin maternus (see maternal). Used from 1893 as a quasi-adjective in reference to garments designed for pregnant women.
词态变化
复数 maternities;
权威造句
1. Your job will be kept open for your return after maternity leave.
你的工作会一直保留到你休完产假回来。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The boy was born at the city"s maternity hospital.
这个男孩出生在市妇产医院。
来自柯林斯例句wwW.WenTiYi.cOM
3. Maternity services were to be reduced in consequence of falling birth rates.
由于出生率下降，产科服务会随之削减。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Toronto hospital maternity wards were filled to capacity.
