māter tris, f 2 MA-, a mother: pietas in matrem: quae matre Asteriā est, daughter of Asteria: lambere matrem, foster-mother, V.: Pilentis matres in mollibus, matrons, V.: Matres atque viri, ladies, V.: mater familias or familiae, lady of the house

— see familia.

—A nurse, mother (as a title of honor): Vesta, V.: deūm, Cybele, O.: Matris Magnae sacerdos, i. e. mother of the gods, Cybele: terra, quam matrem appellamus, mother country, L.: Populonia, mother city, V.: petere antiquam matrem, O.: cupidinum, i. e. Venus, H.

—Of animals, a mother, dam, parent: prohibent a matribus haedos, V.: ova adsunt ipsis cum matribus (i. e. gallinis), Iu.: simia, Iu.

—Of plants, a parent, stock: plantas abscindens de corpore matrum, V.

—Fig., a mother, parent, producer, nurse, cause, origin, source: philosophia mater omnium bene factorum: avaritiae mater, luxuries.