MIDWIFE

midwife, accoucheuse

(noun) a woman skilled in aiding the delivery of babies

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

midwife (plural midwives)

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

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

Usage notes

• The term is applicable to both males and females. Etymologically, the "wife" (OE wif) is the woman [the one giving birth] whom the midwife is working "with" (mid) to facilitate the birth.

Despite this, the term midhusband is also sometimes used (usually in humour).

Synonyms

• accoucheuse

Coordinate terms

• accoucheur

• man-midwife

Verb

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

(transitive) To act as a midwife

(transitive, figuratively) to facilitate the emergence of

Usage notes

While elementary students are taught "replace 'f' with 'v'," the mistake resulting in "midwifed" is made often enough in informal/colloquial language to indicate the rule is not consistently followed.

Source: Wiktionary

Mid"wife`, n.; pl. Midwives. Etym: [OE. midwif, fr. AS. mid with (akin to Gr. Meta-, and Wife.]

Definition: A woman who assists other women in childbirth; a female practitioner of the obstetric art.

Mid"wife`, v. t.

Definition: To assist in childbirth.

Mid"wife`, v. i.

Definition: To perform the office of midwife.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition