midwife en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈmɪd.(w)ɪf/ (obsolete)
- /ˈmɪd.waɪf/
- (Southern-England) audio
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).
Meanings
-
A person, usually a woman, who is trained to assist women in childbirth, but who is not a physician.
Modernly, a hospital midwife is usually a registered nurse.
Despite Richard's efforts to midwive his own narrative of legitimacy, the source of this legendary one cannot be controlled because it has moved from the mouths of nurses, midwives and gossips into the public domain.
2017, Caroline Bicks, Midwiving Subjects in Shakespeare’s England, page 123: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.
The senior midwife confirmed that […] occasionally a multigravid woman could feel little more than slight abdominal discomfort.
2009, Jennifer Worth, Farewell to the East End, Weidenfeld & Nicholson, page 235:
-
(figuratively, rare) Someone who assists in bringing about some result or project.
He had not read it, but he said that every detail in it was true. This struck me as a rather cavalier attitude to truth, but hatred is not the midwife of caution or accuracy.
2012, Theodore Dalrymple, The Wilder Shores of Marx: Journeys in a Vanishing World:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| midwives | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| midwive | alternative, verb | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Deriveds
man-midwife · midwife frog · midwifery · midwife toad
Relateds
Synonyms
Translations (259)
mi kaiwhakawhanau (person who assists women in childbirth) · ast comadrona (person who assists women in childbirth) · grc μαῖα (person who assists women in childbirth) · uk повиту́ха (person who assists women in childbirth) · kmr pîrik (person who assists women in childbirth) · da fødselshjælper (person who assists in bringing something about) · el μαμή (person who assists women in childbirth) · bg акуше́рка (person who assists women in childbirth) · et ämmaemand (person who assists women in childbirth) · ang beorþorþīnen (person who assists women in childbirth) · id bidan (person who assists women in childbirth) · tg акушер (person who assists women in childbirth) · nn jordmor (person who assists women in childbirth) · fo jarðarmóðir (person who assists women in childbirth) · sv barnmorska (person who assists women in childbirth) · nrf gardgienne (person who assists women in childbirth) · sh ба̏бица (person who assists women in childbirth) · hu bába (person who assists in bringing something about) · cs porodní bába (person who assists women in childbirth) · tg қобила (person who assists women in childbirth) · fy ferloskundige (person who assists women in childbirth) · fr accoucheur (person who assists women in childbirth) · sh primalja (person who assists women in childbirth) · ur جَنائی (person who assists women in childbirth) · de Geburtshelferin (person who assists women in childbirth) · nv asdzání iʼiiłchíhí (person who assists women in childbirth) · cmn 助產士 /助产士 (person who assists women in childbirth) · ur دائِی (person who assists women in childbirth) · pl akuszer (person who assists women in childbirth) · ga bean chabhrach (person who assists women in childbirth) · nrf accouocheuse (person who assists women in childbirth) · ast partera (person who assists women in childbirth) · fr sage-femme homme (person who assists women in childbirth) · km យាយម៉ប (person who assists women in childbirth) · la obstetrīx (person who assists women in childbirth) · gd muime (person who assists women in childbirth) · kmr ebe (person who assists women in childbirth) · lo ນາງຜະດຸງຄັນ (person who assists women in childbirth) · tg момо (person who assists women in childbirth) · ur مِڈْوائِف (person who assists women in childbirth) · arz داية (person who assists women in childbirth) · hy տատմեր (person who assists women in childbirth) · yue 執仔婆 /执仔婆 (person who assists women in childbirth) · pap partera (person who assists women in childbirth) · lv vecmāte (person who assists women in childbirth) · mk акуше́р (person who assists women in childbirth) · tg доя (person who assists women in childbirth) · ja 助産師 (person who assists women in childbirth) · gl partureira (person who assists women in childbirth) · lo ຕຳແຍ (person who assists women in childbirth) · ur قابِلَہ (person who assists women in childbirth) · ru ба́бка (person who assists women in childbirth) · sl babica (person who assists women in childbirth) · nv awééʼ hayiidzį́sí (person who assists women in childbirth) · nl verloskundige (person who assists women in childbirth) · ms pengulin (person who assists women in childbirth) · pdt Weemutta (person who assists women in childbirth) · cmn 接生婆 (person who assists women in childbirth) · mt qabla (person who assists women in childbirth) · cmn 穩婆 /稳婆 (person who assists women in childbirth) · bg акуше́р (person who assists women in childbirth) · vi nữ hộ sinh (person who assists women in childbirth) · bn মিডওয়াইফ (person who assists women in childbirth) · sh akùšēr (person who assists women in childbirth) · hi प्रसाविका (person who assists women in childbirth) · ky акушер (person who assists women in childbirth) · izh babka (person who assists women in childbirth) · fa-ira قابِلِه (person who assists women in childbirth) · ast partalicera (person who assists women in childbirth) · mk бабица (person who assists women in childbirth) · nrf sage-femme (person who assists women in childbirth) · es matrona (person who assists women in childbirth) · quc iyom (person who assists women in childbirth) · ca llevador (person who assists women in childbirth) · nan-hbl 助產士 /助产士 (person who assists women in childbirth) · fo ljósmóðir (person who assists women in childbirth) · ki mũciarithia (person who assists women in childbirth) · hy ակուշերկա (person who assists women in childbirth) · ms bidan (person who assists women in childbirth) · nay putari (person who assists women in childbirth) · ar قَابِلَة (person who assists women in childbirth) · ta மருத்துவச்சி (person who assists women in childbirth) · pox bobă (person who assists women in childbirth) · mel bidan (person who assists women in childbirth) · uz akusherka (person who assists women in childbirth) · lv akušiere (person who assists women in childbirth) · fy hoarnwiif (person who assists women in childbirth) · yi הײַבאַם (person who assists women in childbirth) · is yfirsetukona (person who assists women in childbirth) · af vroedvrou (person who assists women in childbirth) · sq babo (person who assists women in childbirth) · gl parteira (person who assists women in childbirth) · sq mami (person who assists women in childbirth) · sh bȁbica (person who assists women in childbirth) · da jordemoder (person who assists women in childbirth) · el μαία (person who assists women in childbirth) · nl baker (person who assists women in childbirth) · ga cnáimhseach (person who assists women in childbirth) · sh akùšērka (person who assists women in childbirth) · gd bean-ghlùine (person who assists women in childbirth) · nv awééʼ hayiiníłí (person who assists women in childbirth) · ja 産婆 (person who assists women in childbirth) · ny zamba (person who assists women in childbirth) · ru повиту́ха (person who assists women in childbirth) · cmn 產婆 /产婆 (person who assists women in childbirth) · csb akùszerka (person who assists women in childbirth) · ps قابله (person who assists women in childbirth) · ug ئاكۇشېر (person who assists women in childbirth) · str NIȽ ȻENT Ȼ SĆḴAḴS (person who assists women in childbirth) · fi kätilö (person who assists in bringing something about) · afb داية (person who assists women in childbirth) · tg момодоя (person who assists women in childbirth) · tk akuşerka (person who assists women in childbirth) · fi kätilö (person who assists women in childbirth) · ps دايي (person who assists women in childbirth) · th หมอตำแย (person who assists women in childbirth) · ky акушерка (person who assists women in childbirth) · yi אַקושערין (person who assists women in childbirth) · ca llevadora (person who assists women in childbirth) · my ဝမ်းဆွဲ (person who assists women in childbirth) · km ម៉ប (person who assists women in childbirth) · ru повива́льная ба́бка (person who assists women in childbirth) · ota ابه (person who assists women in childbirth) · fo nærkona (person who assists women in childbirth) · nap mammana (person who assists women in childbirth) · nb jordmor (person who assists women in childbirth) · sh аку̀ше̄рка (person who assists women in childbirth) · vi bà đỡ đẻ (person who assists women in childbirth) · pl położna (person who assists women in childbirth) · arz ولادة (person who assists women in childbirth) · az mama (person who assists women in childbirth) · kk акушер әйел (person who assists women in childbirth) · lo ຫມໍຕຳແຍ (person who assists women in childbirth) · ka ბებიაქალი (person who assists women in childbirth) · vi bà đỡ (person who assists women in childbirth) · sk babica (person who assists women in childbirth) · be ба́ба (person who assists women in childbirth) · tk akuşer (person who assists women in childbirth) · is ljósmóðir (person who assists women in childbirth) · ps دايه (person who assists women in childbirth) · he מיילדת \ מְיַלֶּדֶת (person who assists women in childbirth) · ru акуше́рка (person who assists women in childbirth) · szl flegera (person who assists women in childbirth) · ga bean ghlúine (person who assists women in childbirth) · nan-hbl 抾囝母 (person who assists women in childbirth) · ccc kumali (person who assists women in childbirth) · hi धात्री (person who assists women in childbirth) · izh ämmä (person who assists women in childbirth) · ps تيي (person who assists women in childbirth) · mn эх баригч (person who assists women in childbirth) · cmn 接生員 /接生员 (person who assists women in childbirth) · lb Hiewan (person who assists women in childbirth) · pt parteira (person who assists women in childbirth) · eu emagin (person who assists women in childbirth) · te మంత్రసాని (person who assists women in childbirth) · fa-ira دایِه (person who assists women in childbirth) · da jordemor (person who assists women in childbirth) · is léttakona (person who assists women in childbirth) · be акушэ́рка (person who assists women in childbirth) · hi दाई (person who assists women in childbirth) · cs bába (person who assists women in childbirth) · sa धात्री (person who assists women in childbirth) · pox bopkă (person who assists women in childbirth) · it levatrice (person who assists women in childbirth) · eo akuŝistino (person who assists women in childbirth) · moh iewirókwas (person who assists women in childbirth) · kk акушер (person who assists women in childbirth) · nap vammana (person who assists women in childbirth) · ka მეანი (person who assists women in childbirth) · hi जनाई (person who assists women in childbirth) · nan-hbl 產婆 /产婆 (person who assists women in childbirth) · sk pôrodná asistentka (person who assists women in childbirth) · ko 조산사 (person who assists women in childbirth) · br amiegez (person who assists women in childbirth) · cmn 促成者 (person who assists in bringing something about) · mk акуше́рка (person who assists women in childbirth) · gil tia kabung (person who assists women in childbirth) · fr maïeuticien (person who assists women in childbirth) · de Entbindungshelferin (person who assists women in childbirth) · sw mkunga (person who assists women in childbirth) · sga banterismid (person who assists women in childbirth) · be акушэ́р (person who assists women in childbirth) · ko 산파 (person who assists women in childbirth) · ru акуше́р (person who assists women in childbirth) · tr ebe (person who assists women in childbirth) · es partera (person who assists women in childbirth) · fa-ira پازاچ (person who assists women in childbirth) · is nærkona (person who assists women in childbirth) · bn দাই (person who assists women in childbirth) · hi मिडवाइफ़ (person who assists women in childbirth) · tl kumadrona (person who assists women in childbirth) · kl ernisussiortoq (person who assists women in childbirth) · th ตำแย (person who assists women in childbirth) · ja 助産婦 (person who assists women in childbirth) · uz akusher (person who assists women in childbirth) · my လက်သည် (person who assists women in childbirth) · fr sage-femme (person who assists women in childbirth) · lt akušerė (person who assists women in childbirth) · ar دَايَة (person who assists women in childbirth) · sk baba (person who assists women in childbirth) · hu szülésznő (person who assists women in childbirth) · cy bydwraig (person who assists women in childbirth) · mi wahine whakawhanau (person who assists women in childbirth) · hy մանկաբարձուհի (person who assists women in childbirth) · ms dukun beranak (person who assists women in childbirth) · zlw-ocs babicě (person who assists women in childbirth) · sh аку̀ше̄р (person who assists women in childbirth) · is ljósa (person who assists women in childbirth) · nb fødselshjelper (person who assists in bringing something about) · ug ئاكۇشېركا (person who assists women in childbirth) · it ostetrica (person who assists women in childbirth) · bg ба́ба (person who assists women in childbirth) · vi bà mụ (person who assists women in childbirth) · az mamaça (person who assists women in childbirth) · nl obstetrieverpleegkundige (person who assists women in childbirth) · uz doya (person who assists women in childbirth) · uk повива́льна ба́бка (person who assists women in childbirth) · hy դայակ (person who assists women in childbirth) · sa साविका (person who assists women in childbirth) · yi אַקושערקע (person who assists women in childbirth) · be ба́бка (person who assists women in childbirth) · scn lavatrici (person who assists women in childbirth) · yue 助產士 /助产士 (person who assists women in childbirth) · yue 接生婆 (person who assists women in childbirth) · mt majjistra (person who assists women in childbirth) · ko 조산부 (person who assists women in childbirth) · de Entbindungspfleger (person who assists women in childbirth) · ky аначы (person who assists women in childbirth) · de Hebamme (person who assists women in childbirth) · uk акуше́рка (person who assists women in childbirth) · akz tayyi alikchi (person who assists women in childbirth) · fr accoucheuse (person who assists women in childbirth) · km ឆ្មប (person who assists women in childbirth) · uk сповиту́ха (person who assists women in childbirth) · es comadrona (person who assists women in childbirth) · de Entbindungshelfer (person who assists women in childbirth) · bn ধাত্রী (person who assists women in childbirth) · dsb babka (person who assists women in childbirth) · fa-ira ماما (person who assists women in childbirth) · mr दाई (person who assists women in childbirth) · ota قابله (person who assists women in childbirth) · pdt Popkjemutta (person who assists women in childbirth) · cs porodní asistentka (person who assists women in childbirth) · be павіту́ха (person who assists women in childbirth) · csb dzecołapka (person who assists women in childbirth) · pl akuszerka (person who assists women in childbirth) · de Geburtshelfer (person who assists women in childbirth) · de Entbindungspflegerin (person who assists women in childbirth) · nl vroedvrouw (person who assists women in childbirth) · yue 執媽 /执妈 (person who assists women in childbirth) · ro moașă (person who assists women in childbirth) · ml വയറ്റാട്ടി (person who assists women in childbirth) · ru повива́льщица (person who assists women in childbirth) · ast partalixera (person who assists women in childbirth) · sk pôrodná baba (person who assists women in childbirth) · uk акуше́р (person who assists women in childbirth) · tg акушерка (person who assists women in childbirth) · hu bába (person who assists women in childbirth) · eo akuŝisto (person who assists women in childbirth)