Usage note Expand. Since the latter part of the 18th century, a distinction has been made between born and borne as past participles of the verb bear1. Borne is the past participle in all senses that do not refer to physical birth: The wheatfields have borne abundantly this year. Judges have always borne a burden of responsibility. Borne is also the participle when the sense is âto bring forth (young)â and the focus is on the mother rather than on the child.
dowager (plural dowagers) 1  A widow holding property or title derived from her late husband. 2  Any lady of dignified bearing.
maternal. adj. 1. of, relating to, derived from, or characteristic of a mother. 2. related through the mother's side of the family: his maternal uncle. [C15: from Medieval Latin mÄternÄlis, from Latin mÄternus, from mÄter mother]. (mÉËtÉr nl). adj.