great mother: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialized/Academic/Literary
Quick answer
What does “great mother” mean?
A powerful mother figure, often used in mythology, anthropology, or psychology to refer to an archetypal or symbolic mother of great importance, nurturing power, or origin.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A powerful mother figure, often used in mythology, anthropology, or psychology to refer to an archetypal or symbolic mother of great importance, nurturing power, or origin.
1) In mythology and comparative religion: a primal, archetypal goddess or mother deity representing fertility, nature, and the source of life (e.g., Magna Mater). 2) In psychology (Jungian): the 'Great Mother' archetype, representing the nurturing, protective, and sometimes devouring aspects of the unconscious. 3) Colloquially: an exceptionally good, loving, or formidable mother.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. Usage is equally specialized in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, carries strong connotations of primordial power, archetypal significance, and deep nurturance when used in its specialized sense.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to specific discourses.
Grammar
How to Use “great mother” in a Sentence
the Great Mother of [noun phrase: e.g., the gods, all living things]a great mother to [noun phrase: e.g., her children, the nation]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “great mother” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
American English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
American English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- (The phrase itself is primarily noun-based; 'great' functions as an adjective modifying 'mother')
American English
- (The phrase itself is primarily noun-based; 'great' functions as an adjective modifying 'mother')
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in anthropology, religious studies, psychology (Jungian analysis), mythology, and gender studies.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used as a heartfelt compliment: 'She was a great mother to all of us.'
Technical
A formal term in the fields mentioned above, referring to a specific conceptual archetype or deity.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “great mother”
Strong
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “great mother”
- Using 'great mother' in casual contexts where 'wonderful mother' or 'amazing mum' is more natural. Confusing it with 'grandmother'. Incorrect capitalization when referring to the archetype.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are closely related concepts. 'Mother Nature' is a personification of nature, often seen as a specific manifestation of the broader 'Great Mother' archetype, which encompasses all aspects of motherhood on a cosmic or psychic level.
Yes, but it sounds quite formal or literary. In everyday speech, 'amazing mum', 'wonderful mother', or 'fantastic mother' are more common and natural.
Capitalization (Great Mother) signals that it is being used as a proper name for a specific archetype or deity, much like 'God'. Lowercase (great mother) is used for general description.
The term is interdisciplinary but is most prominent in comparative mythology, religious studies, and analytical (Jungian) psychology.
A powerful mother figure, often used in mythology, anthropology, or psychology to refer to an archetypal or symbolic mother of great importance, nurturing power, or origin.
Great mother is usually specialized/academic/literary in register.
Great mother: in British English it is pronounced /ɡreɪt ˈmʌðə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡreɪt ˈmʌðər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Mother Nature (related concept)”
- “the mother of all (colloquial, structurally similar)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'GREAT' in 'Great Mother' as meaning both 'excellent' and 'large, encompassing' — she is the excellent, all-encompassing source.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORIGIN IS A MOTHER (the beginning of things is a nurturing parent), NATURE IS A MOTHER, THE UNCONSCIOUS IS A MOTHER.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'Great Mother' MOST likely to be used technically?