/mid"wuyf'/ , n. , pl. midwives /-wuyvz'/ , v. , midwifed or midwived, midwifing or wiving .
n.
1. a person trained to assist women in childbirth.
2. a person or thing that produces or aids in producing something new or different.
v.t.
3. to assist in the birth of (a baby).
4. to produce or aid in producing (something new): to midwife a new generation of computers.
[ 1250-1300; ME midwif, equiv. to mid with, accompanying (OE; cf. META-) + wif woman (OE wif; see WIFE) ]