with child

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word with child. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word with child, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say with child in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word with child you have here. The definition of the word with child will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofwith child, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Etymology

Replaced earlier mid child. Compare Danish and Swedish med barn.

Prepositional phrase

with child

  1. (dated) Pregnant.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:pregnant
    • c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :
      I would there were no age between sixteen and three-and-twenty, or that youth would sleep out the rest; for there is nothing in the between but getting wenches with child, wronging the ancientry, stealing, fighting.
    • 1722 (indicated as 1721), , The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders, &c. , London: W Chetwood, ; and T. Edling, , published 1722, →OCLC, page 118:
      othing vvas more frightful to me than his Careſſes, and the Apprehenſions of being vvith Child again by him, vvas ready to throvv me into Fits;
    • 1999, Rebecca Hourwich Reyher, Zulu Woman:
      I should have had two children, but I find myself with only one. Yet he spends his time with other women who are already with child.

Translations

See also