obstetric

or ob·stet·ri·cal

[ uh b-ste-trik or uh b-ste-tri-kuh l ]

/ əbˈstɛ trɪk or əbˈstɛ trɪ kəl /

adjective

of or relating to the care and treatment of women in childbirth and during the period before and after delivery.

of or relating to childbirth or obstetrics. Abbreviation: OB, ob

Nearby words

Origin of obstetric

1735–45; < New Latin obstetrīcus pertaining to a midwife, alteration of Latin obstetrīcius, derivative of obstetrīx, equivalent to ob- ob- + ste- (combining form of stāre to stand) + -trīx -trix

Related formsob·stet·ri·cal·ly, adverbnon·ob·stet·ric, adjectivenon·ob·stet·ri·cal, adjectivenon·ob·stet·ri·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for obstetrical

Much speculation with Bea: Had the obstetrical case taken longer than he had expected?
Main Street|Sinclair Lewis
The greatest obstetrician of the later nineteenth century reports 100,000 obstetrical cases with only one artificial labor.
Psychotherapy|James J. Walsh
Events must not be born without a preparatory course of his obstetrical pedantry!
House of Torment|Cyril Arthur Edward Ranger Gull
Just in this fact lies the chief moral crux in the use of the twilight sleep method of obstetrical delivery.
The Ethics of Medical Homicide and Mutilation|Austin O'Malley

He conducted his obstetrical clinic particularly with a liberal benevolence and charity that deserve to be mentioned.
Makers of Electricity|Brother Potamian

British Dictionary definitions for obstetrical

obstetric

obstetrical

/ (ɒbˈstɛtrɪk) /

adjective

of or relating to childbirth or obstetrics

Derived Formsobstetrically, adverb

Word Origin for obstetric

C18: via New Latin from Latin obstetrīcius, from obstetrix a midwife, literally: woman who stands opposite, from obstāre to stand in front of; see obstacle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for obstetrical

obstetric

adj.

1742, from Modern Latin obstetricus "pertaining to a midwife," from obstetrix (genitive obstetricis) "midwife," literally "one who stands opposite (the woman giving birth)," from obstare "stand opposite to" (see obstacle). The true adjective would be obstetricic, "but only pedantry would take exception to obstetric at this stage of its career." [Fowler]. Related: Obstetrical.

Medicine definitions for obstetrical

obstetric

[ ŏb-stĕt′rĭk, əb- ]

adj.

Of or relating to the profession of obstetrics or the care of women during and after pregnancy.