Maternal (8)
I believe the answer is:
motherly
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">maternal</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(similar in meaning)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for motherly that I've seen before include "Maternal - gentle" , "Maternally protective" , "Nurturing and protective" , "Caring, protective" .)