puerperal
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to a woman in childbirth.
-
pertaining to or connected with childbirth.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of puerperal
First recorded in 1760–70, puerperal is from the New Latin word puerperālis of childbirth. See puerpera, -al 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While no official figures are collected for girls aged under 15, the WHO said mothers aged 10 to 19 face higher risks of eclampsia, puerperal endometritis and systemic infections than women aged 20 to 24.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 5, 2019
Semmelweis, once described as a “savior of mothers,” discovered that cases of puerperal fever could be significantly cut by washing hands before surgery.
From New York Times ● Jul. 25, 2018
Mary's own mother had died of puerperal sepsis 11 days after giving birth to her fame-bound daughter.
From Science Magazine ● Jan. 10, 2018
Tolstoy’s wife Sofia almost died when she contracted puerperal fever after her fifth delivery, but he impregnated her again and again.
From Slate ● Apr. 28, 2016
Stadfeldt59 reduced the mortality from puerperal fever in the Maternity Hospital of Copenhagen from 1 to 37, the proportion between the years 1865 and 1869, to 1 in 87 between the years 1870-74.
From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
