Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1. 
 the quality of having or showing the tenderness and warmth and affection of or befitting a mother; 
- Example: "the girl's motherliness made her invaluable in caring for the children"[syn: motherliness, maternalism, maternal quality, maternity]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
maternal quality
    n 1: 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" [syn: motherliness, maternalism, maternal
         quality, maternity]