From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Motherly \Moth"er*ly\, adv.
In a manner of a mother.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Motherly \Moth"er*ly\, a. [AS. m[=o]dorlic.]
Of or pertaining to a mother; like, or suitable for, a
mother; tender; maternal; as, motherly authority, love, or
care. --Hooker.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Maternal; paternal.
Usage: {Motherly}, {Maternal}. Motherly, being Anglo-Saxon,
is the most familiar word of the two when both have
the same meaning. Besides this, maternal is confined
to the feelings of a mother toward her own children,
whereas motherly has a secondary sense, denoting a
care like that of a mother for her offspring. There
is, perhaps, a growing tendency thus to separate the
two, confining motherly to the latter signification.
"They termed her the great mother, for her motherly
care in cherishing her brethren whilst young." --Sir
W. Raleigh.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
motherly
adv 1: in a maternal manner; as a mother; "she loved her
students almost maternally" [syn: {maternally},
{motherly}]
adj 1: befitting a mother; warm and nurturing
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