quword 趣词
Word Origins Dictionary
- obstetric
- obstetric: [18] An obstetric nurse is etymologically one who ‘stands before’ a woman giving birth to render assistance. The word is an adaptation of Latin obstetrīcius, a derivative of obstetrīx ‘midwife’. This in turn was formed from obstāre ‘stand in the way’ (source also of English obstacle [14] and oust [16]), a compound verb formed from the prefix ob- ‘before’ and stāre ‘stand’.
=> obstacle, oust, stand, station, statue - 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.