earth mother

noun

often capitalized E&M
1
: the earth viewed (as in primitive theology) as the divine source of terrestrial life
2
: an embodiment of the female principle of fertility : a nurturing maternal woman

Examples of earth mother in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Sturgill Simpson stepped off the grid and into the persona of Johnny Blue Skies, Kacey Musgraves cultivated an earth mother worldview, Lainey Wilson turned an honest eye toward her sudden fame, and Chris Stapleton made his most cohesive album since his debut, Traveller. Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2024 Unlike Janet, an earth mother who exerts a gravitational pull on others, Lacy is too immersed in the conundrum of her own life to care about her effect on those around her. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2024 Wilbur — who looks every bit the quintessential earth mother, with her salt-and-pepper hair pinned into a messy bun and wearing an aqua cape, cactus-print socks and hiking boots — gives a short talk about the origins of forest bathing. Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2023 The Aztecs similarly viewed toads as a source of fertility, in the form of the earth mother goddess Tlaltecuhtli. Jane Recker, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 June 2022 Over her two-and-a-half-decade career in the fashion industry, Karen Elson’s work as a model has seen her transform into many things: an Old Hollywood vamp, a 1950s pin-up, an earth mother, a fairytale princess. Liam Hess, Vogue, 13 May 2022 One’s a fancy reporter known by all the waitstaff at Le Bilboquet, the other’s a philanthropic earth mother. Marshall Heyman, Vulture, 19 May 2021 But in that telepathic moment between the sisters, Serena was not tennis’s earth mother. New York Times, 14 Feb. 2021 Fast Facts: Hawai’i also contains Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, a name that honors Papahānaumoku and Wākea, the earth mother and the sky god. Tara Wu, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Nov. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of earth mother was in 1832

Dictionary Entries Near earth mother

Cite this Entry

“Earth mother.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earth%20mother. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

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