n. (pl. -wives) a person (usu. a woman) trained to assist women in childbirth. midwifery n.
[ ME, prob. f. obs. prep. mid with + WIFE woman, in the sense of 'one who is with the mother' ]
n. (pl. -wives) a person (usu. a woman) trained to assist women in childbirth. midwifery n.
[ ME, prob. f. obs. prep. mid with + WIFE woman, in the sense of 'one who is with the mother' ]
Concise Oxford English dictionary. Краткий оксфордский словарь английского языка. 2012