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Motherly vs Otherly - What's the difference?

motherly | otherly |

As adjectives the difference between motherly and otherly

is that motherly is befitting a mother, warm, caring, nurturing, protective, loving while otherly is pertaining to something or someone else; different.

As an adverb otherly is

(nonstandard) otherwise; differently.

motherly

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Befitting a mother, warm, caring, nurturing, protective, loving.
  • *
    • Clover was a stout motherly mare approaching middle life

    otherly

    English

    Etymology 1

    From .

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Pertaining to something or someone else; different.
  • * 1989 , John R. Seeley, Community chest: a case study in philanthropy :
    • As against this "otherly " and warlike definition, there occurs and recurs, both in the public relations literature and in the serious discussion of policy, a more "brotherly" and peaceful set of themes, parallel to those which permit [...]
  • * 2000 , Phoebe Eng, Warrior Lessons: An Asian American Woman's Journey Into Power :
    • [...] sense of cultural pride, we have become fixated on the only apparent characteristic that labels us as otherly .
  • Pertaining or directed toward others; otherish.
  • * 2011 , Ed Cook, Just a Thought :
    • He has no needs or wants that are not met within the eternal community of otherly love known as the triune Godhead of Father, Son, and Spirit. God doesn't need us.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) otherliche, from (etyl) .

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (nonstandard) Otherwise; differently.