different between midwife vs matrona

English

Etymology

From Old English midw?f, corresponding to mid (“with”) + w?f (“woman”). It appears not to be entirely clear whether the original understanding was “with-woman” in the sense of “attending/assisting woman”, or “they who are with the woman” (namely the mother).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?d.wa?f/

Noun

midwife (plural midwives)

1. 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. (rare, figuratively) Someone who assists in bringing about some result or project.

Usage notes

• The term is applicable to both males and females. Despite this, the term midhusband is also sometimes used (usually in humour).

Synonyms

• accoucheuse

Coordinate terms

• accoucheur
• man-midwife

Derived terms

• midwife toad
• midwifery

Related terms

• midhusband

Translations

Verb

midwife (third-person singular simple present midwives or midwifes, present participle midwiving or midwifing, simple past and past participle midwived or midwifed)

1. (transitive) To act as a midwife
2. (transitive, figuratively) 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.

   Thomas L. Friedman. "Attention: Baby on Board." New York Times. April 13, 2010.

Usage notes

While elementary students are taught "replace 'f' with 'v'," the mistake resulting in "midwifed" is made often enough in informal/colloquial language to indicate the rule is not consistently followed.

Translations

See also

• doula
• obstetrician
• obstetrics

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin m?tr?na (“matron”), from m?ter (“mother; matron”). Doublet of matron.

Noun

matrona (plural matronas) (historical)

1. In Ancient Rome, a wife of an honorable man.

Anagrams

• Maranto, Montara

Italian

Etymology

From Latin m?tr?na (“matron”), from m?ter (“mother; matron”).

Noun

matrona f (plural matrone)

1. matron

Related terms

• matronale
• matronale

Anagrams

• marnato
• normata
• tarmano
• tramano
• maronat

Latin

Etymology

From m?ter (“mother; matron”). This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ma??tro?.na/, [mä??t??o?nä]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ma?tro.na/, [m??t????n?]

Noun

m?tr?na f (genitive m?tr?nae); first declension

1. A married woman, wife or matron, especially of an honorable man.
2. A title of Juno.

Declension

First-declension noun.

Derived terms

• m?tr?n?lis
• m?tr?n?tus

Related terms

Descendants

References

• matrona in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• matrona in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• matrona in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
• matrona in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré Latin-Français, Hachette
• matrona in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898) Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
• matrona in William Smith, editor (1854, 1857) A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, volume 1 & 2, London: Walton and Maberly

Polish

Etymology

From Latin m?tr?na.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ma?tr?.na/

Noun

matrona f

1. (dated) matron (mature or elderly woman)
2. (Ancient Rome, historical) matrona (wife of an honorable man)

Declension

Further reading

• matrona in Wielki s?ownik j?zyka polskiego, Instytut J?zyka Polskiego PAN
• matrona in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Spanish

Etymology

From Latin m?tr?na (“matron”), from m?ter (“mother; matron”).

Noun

matrona f (plural matronas)

1. matron
2. midwife

   Synonyms: comadrona, partera