mother country
/'mʌðə'kʌntri/
Definition
- Noun:
- The country where one was born or where one's ancestors originated: "mother country" refers to one's native land or homeland, often carrying emotional or patriotic connotations.
- The colonizing or founding country in relation to its colonies or settlements: Historically, "mother country" can denote the original nation that established colonies abroad.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- After living abroad for twenty years, she felt a deep longing to return to her mother country.
- Many immigrants send money back to support their families in their mother country.
- In the 18th century, the American colonies traded extensively with the British mother country.
Advanced Usage
- "the old mother country": A phrase used to refer nostalgically or affectionately to one's homeland, especially from the perspective of someone living abroad.
- He still reads the newspapers from the old mother country to feel connected.
Variants and Related Words
- Motherland (n): A synonym often used with similar emotional weight, meaning one's native country.
- He fought bravely for the motherland.
- Fatherland (n): Another term for one's native country, used similarly in some languages and contexts.
- Homeland (n): One's native land; a more neutral synonym.
Synonyms
- Native land: The country of one's birth.
- Home country: A more modern and neutral term for one's country of origin.
- Country of origin: A formal term used in official contexts.
Related Phrases
- "Ties to the mother country": Connections, whether cultural, familial, or emotional, to one's homeland.
- The diaspora maintains strong ties to the mother country through cultural festivals.
Related Idioms
- "The mother country calls": An expression implying a patriotic duty or a strong pull to return to one's homeland.
- When war broke out, he felt the mother country called him to serve.
Noun
-
the country where you were born
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