See Also: Emperor's New Clothes, The(dictionary)
clothes peg(dictionary)
clothes(dictionary)
clothes(dictionary)
plain-clothes(dictionary)
swaddling clothes(dictionary)
clothes horse(dictionary)
clothes hanger(dictionary)
clothes brush(dictionary)
clothes basket(dictionary)

MATERNITY (law) and Emperor's New Clothes, The (oh)


MATERNITY (law)


MATERNITY. The state or condition of a mother. 2. It is either legitimate or natural. The former is the condition of 2. It is either legitimate or natural. The former is the condition of the mother who has given birth to legitimate children, while the latter is the mother who has given birth to legitimate children, while the latter is the condition of her who has given birth to illegitimate children. Maternity the condition of her who has given birth to illegitimate children. Maternity is always certain, while the paternity (q.v.) is only presumed. is always certain, while the paternity (q.v.) is only presumed.

Emperor's New Clothes, The (oh)



a fairy tale (=old children's story) by Hans Christian Andersen about an emperor who pays a lot of money for some new Magic clothes which can only be seen by wise people. The clothes do not really exist, but the emperor does not admit he cannot see them, because he does not want to seem stupid. Everyone else pretends to see the clothes too, until a child shouts, "The Emperor has no clothes on!" The title is often used to describe a situation in which people are afraid to criticize something because everyone else seems to think it is good or important.