midwife
Americannoun
plural
midwives-
a person trained to assist women in childbirth.
-
a person or thing that produces or aids in producing something new or different.
verb (used with object)
-
to assist in the birth of (a baby).
-
to produce or aid in producing (something new).
to midwife a new generation of computers.
noun
Etymology
Origin of midwife
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English midwif, from mid “with, accompanying” ( Old English; meta- ) + wif “woman” ( Old English wīf; wife )
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.
Her husband Jonathan believes there is a "cultural" problem within maternity services that midwives believe they know better as they are the professionals.
From BBC
The midwife, Gertrude, says I’m small because I had only the milk of a weak goat instead of a strong mother, but I know that really it’s because of my name.
From Literature
There were, though, some concerns expressed about those conventions — and a sense from some that for too long custom had been the midwife of deference and that must change.
From BBC
Cleeves said her daughter was a midwife and had compared grief to labour pains.
From BBC
Ferris, who was 33 weeks pregnant with their first child, had been given the all clear for the trip and flight by her midwife and GP.
From BBC
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.
