Mothered

moth·er ¹  (mr)

n.

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

2. A female parent of an animal.

3. A female ancestor.

4. A woman who holds a position of authority or responsibility similar to that of a mother: a den mother.

5. Roman Catholic Church

a. A mother superior.

b. Used as a form of address for such a woman.

6. A woman who creates, originates, or founds something: "the discovery of radium, which made Marie Curie mother to the Atomic Age" Alden Whitman.

7. A creative source; an origin: Philosophy is the mother of the sciences.

8. Used as a title for a woman respected for her wisdom and age.

9. Maternal love and tenderness: brought out the mother in her.

10. The biggest or most significant example of its kind: the mother of all battles.

11. Vulgar Slang Something considered extraordinary, as in disagreeableness, size, or intensity.

adj.

1. Relating to or being mother.

2. Characteristic of a mother: mother love.

3. Being the source or origin: the mother church.

4. Derived from or as if from one's mother; native: one's mother language.

tr.v. moth·ered, moth·er·ing, moth·ers

1. To give birth to; create and produce.

2. To watch over, nourish, and protect maternally.

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[Middle English moder, mother, from Old English mdor; see mter- in Indo-European roots. N., sense 10, translation of Iraqi Arabic 'umm. N., sense 11, short for motherfucker.]

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moth·er ²  (mr)

n.

A stringy slime composed of yeast cells and bacteria that forms on the surface of fermenting liquids and is added to wine or cider to start the production of vinegar.

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[Probably alteration (influenced by mother¹) of obsolete Dutch moeder, from Middle Dutch, probably from moeder, mother of children; see mter- in Indo-European roots.]