My! her lot could be maternal (8)
I believe the answer is:
motherly
'maternal' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'my her lot could be' is the wordplay.
'could be' indicates an anagram.
'my'+'her'+'lot'='myherlot'
'myherlot' with letters rearranged gives 'MOTHERLY'.
(Other definitions for motherly that I've seen before include "Maternally protective" , "Nurturing and protective" , "Maternal - gentle" , "Caring, protective" .)