midwife

[mid-wahyf]

noun

plural

midwives 

1. a person trained to assist women in childbirth.

2. a person or thing that produces or aids in producing something new or different.

verb (used with object)

midwifed, midwived, midwifing, midwiving. 

1. to assist in the birth of (a baby).

2. to produce or aid in producing (something new).

   to midwife a new generation of computers.

midwife

/ ˈmɪdˌwaɪf /

noun

1. a person qualified to deliver babies and to care for women before, during, and after childbirth

Word History and Origins

Origin of midwife¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English midwif, from mid “with, accompanying” ( Old English; meta- ) + wif “woman” ( Old English wīf; wife )

Word History and Origins

Origin of midwife¹

C14: from Old English mid with + wif woman

Example Sentences

"With tears in my eyes, I said it to the midwife 'I forgot to water the roses'," she said.

Read more on BBC

An NHS midwife is on life-support in Barbados after falling ill just one day into her dream holiday.

Read more on BBC

Georgia had trained as a midwife, immersing herself in the world she feared she could never be part of.

Read more on BBC

She would not have taken Simon for a midwife!

Read more on Literature

Jimmie and I went to his parents’ house, where his mother, several of his sisters, and the midwife tended to me.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• obstetrician