1.
[syn: midwife, accoucheuse]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Midwife \Mid"wife`\, v. t.
To assist in childbirth.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Midwife \Mid"wife`\, v. i.
To perform the office of midwife.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Midwife \Mid"wife`\, n.; pl. Midwives. [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.]
A woman who assists other women in childbirth; a female
practitioner of the obstetric art.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
midwife
n 1: a woman skilled in aiding the delivery of babies [syn:
midwife, accoucheuse]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
44 Moby Thesaurus words for "midwife":
Charlie McCarthy, agent, ancilla, appliance, bonesetter,
chiropractor, contrivance, creature, device, dummy, dupe,
go-between, handmaid, handmaiden, healer, homeopath, homeopathist,
implement, instrument, interagent, intermediary, intermediate,
intermedium, lever, mechanism, mediator, medic, medium, minion,
oculist, optometrist, organ, osteopath, pawn, plaything, puppet,
servant, slave, stooge, therapeutist, therapist, tool, toy,
vehicle
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary:
Midwife
The two midwives mentioned in Ex. 1:15 were probably the
superintendents of the whole class.
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):
MIDWIFE, med. jur. A woman who practices midwifery; a woman who pursues the
business of an account.
2. A midwife is required to perform the business she undertakes with
proper skill, and if she be guilty of any mala praxis, (q.v.) she is liable
to an action or an indictment for the misdemeanor. Vide Vin. Ab. Physician;
Com. Dig. Physician; 8 East, R. 348; 2 Wils. R. 359; 4 C. & P. 398; S. C. 19
E. C. L. R. 440; 4 C. & P. 407, n. a; 1 Chit. Pr. 43; 2 Russ. Cr. 288.