Definitions for midwife
ˈmɪdˌwaɪf; -ˌwaɪvzmid·wife

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. midwife, accoucheusenoun

   a woman skilled in aiding the delivery of babies

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. midwifenoun

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

   A hundred years ago, a midwife would bring the baby into the world - going to a hospital to deliver a baby was either impossible or unheard of.

2. midwifenoun

   Someone who assists in bringing about some result or project.

3. midwifeverb

   To act as a midwife

4. midwifeverb

   to facilitate the emergence of

   But the bigger objective was to help Iraqis midwife a democratic model that could inspire reform across the Arab-Muslim world and give the youth there a chance at a better future.

5. Etymology: corresponding to mid + wife.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. MIDWIFEnoun

   A woman who assists women in childbirth.

   Etymology: This is derived, both by Stephen Skinner and Franciscus Junius, from mid or meed, a reward, and wif , Saxon.

   When man doth die, our body, as the womb,
   And as a midwife, death directs it home. John Donne.

   Without a midwife these their throws sustain,
   And bowing, bring their issue forth with pain. George Sandys.

   There saw I how the secret felon wrought,
   And treason lab’ring in the traitor’s thought,
   And midwife time the ripen’d plot to murder brought. John Dryden, Knight’s Tale.

   I had as clear a notion of the relation of brothers between them, as if I had all the skill of a midwife. John Locke.

   But no man, sure! e’er left his house
   And saddl’d ball with thoughts so wild,
   To bring a midwife to his spouse,
   Before he knew she was with child. Matthew Prior.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Midwifenoun

   a woman who assists other women in childbirth; a female practitioner of the obstetric art

2. Midwifeverb

   to assist in childbirth

3. Midwifeverb

   to perform the office of midwife

4. Etymology: [OE. midwif, fr. AS. mid with (akin to Gr. ) + woman, wife. Properly, the woman or wife who is attendant upon a woman in childbirth. See Meta-, and Wife.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Midwife

   mid′wīf, n. a woman who assists others in childbirth:—pl. Midwives (mid′wīvz).—n. Mid′wifery, art or practice of a midwife or accoucheuse: assistance at childbirth. [A.S. mid, together with (Ger. mit, Gr. met-a), wíf, woman.]

Matched Categories

1. • Nurse

How to pronounce midwife?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

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   Mark

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   Daniel

   British

   Libby

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   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

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   Priya

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   Neerja

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   Zira

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   Oliver

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   Wendy

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   Fred

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   Tessa

   South African

How to say midwife in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of midwife in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of midwife in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of midwife in a Sentence

1. Ole Olsen:

   In case of any doubt about the status of the pregnancy as low-risk, the midwife will consult with an obstetrician to clarify any precautions related to the specific health concern.

2. Mehmet Murat ildan:

   A lonely Autumn leaf on the road by sticking to another one becomes more resistant to harsh winds. Unity is the midwife of security!

3. Eric Hoffer:

   The link between ideas and action is rarely direct. There is almost always an intermediate step in which the idea is overcome. De Tocqueville points out that it is at times when passions start to govern human affairs that ideas are most obviously translated into political action. The translation of ideas into action is usually in the hands of people least likely to follow rational motives. Hence, it is that action is often the nemesis of ideas, and sometimes of the men who formulate them. One of the marks of the truly vigorous society is the ability to dispense with passion as a midwife of action - the ability to pass directly from thought to action.

4. Frances Manfrey:

   We originally balked at our midwife’s total fee of $3,500, that all had to come out of pocket in regular payments, but we budgeted and made it work.

5. Kim Viscio:

   Do not ignore your symptoms, if something feels off, talk to your doctor or midwife.

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