midwife

English

Alternative forms

• midwive (verb)

Etymology

From Middle English midwif, corresponding to mid (“with”) + wif (“woman, wife, female”). It appears not to be entirely clear whether the original understanding was “with-woman” in the sense of “attending/assisting woman”, or “they who are with the woman” (namely the mother).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɪd.waɪf/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• (obsolete) IPA^(key): /ˈmɪd.(w)ɪf/

Noun

midwife (plural midwives)

1. A person, usually a woman, who is trained to assist women in childbirth, but who is not a physician.

   A hundred years ago, a midwife would bring the baby into the world - going to a hospital to deliver a baby was either impossible or unheard of.

2. (rare, figuratively) Someone who assists in bringing about some result or project.

Usage notes

• The term is applicable to both males and females. Despite this, the term midhusband is also sometimes used (usually in nonserious contexts).

Synonyms

• accoucheuse

Coordinate terms

• accoucheur
• man-midwife

Derived terms

• midwife frog
• midwife toad
• midwifery

Related terms

• midhusband

Translations

Verb

midwife (third-person singular simple present midwifes, present participle midwifing, simple past and past participle midwifed)

1. (transitive) To act as a midwife.
2. (transitive, figuratively) To facilitate the emergence of.
   • Thomas L. Friedman. "Attention: Baby on Board." New York Times. April 13, 2010.

     But the bigger objective was to help Iraqis midwife a democratic model that could inspire reform across the Arab-Muslim world and give the youth there a chance at a better future.

Usage notes

• The earliest forms of the verb used v in place of f (see to midwive); however, forms with f (to midwife) are now just as common if not more commonly seen.

Translations

See also

• doula
• obstetrician
• obstetrics

References