Words on the vine: mater/pater

alma mater

n. - fostering mother, school you graduated from

patrician

n. - a person of high birth, as descending from founding fathers (can also be used as an adj.)

patron

n. a supporter, like one's father (can also be used as an adj.)

patriarch

n. a male head of a family (matriarch - female head of family)

pattern

n. - a model worthy of copying, like a father, v. - to copy

patronym

n. - a name taken from one's father

maternity

n. - motherhood (can also be used as an adjective if referring to pregnancy or birth), paternity = fatherhood

matricide

n. - murder of a mother by her child (patricide - murder of father)

matrimony

n. - marrying a woman to make her a mother

matrix

n. - the place where mothering occurs; womb