obstetric
UK[əbˈstɛtrɪk]US[əbˈstɛtrɪk]
adj
Relating to the branch of medicine and surgery concerned with childbirth and the care of women giving birth.
Morpheme Breakdown
ob
stetr
ic
ob
in the way
stetr
stander
ic
adjective suffix
Etymology
The word "obstetric" originates from the Latin 'obstetrix', meaning "midwife," which is itself a compound. It is formed from 'ob-' (in the way of, near) and the root of 'stare' (to stand). The literal sense is "one who stands opposite to (the mother giving birth)." This professional term for a midwife was later adopted into medical terminology. The adjective "obstetric" was formed in the early 18th century to describe the medical field pertaining to childbirth and midwifery, directly evolving from the role of the person who stands by to assist.
Analysis
Structure: ob (in the way) + stetr (stander) + ic (adjective suffix)
- ob: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "in the way of," "against," or "toward."
- stetr: Latin origin, from 'stetrix' (female stander), a variant of 'stare' (to stand), referring to a midwife.
- ic: Latin/Greek origin, an adjective-forming suffix meaning "of or pertaining to."
Examples
She specialized in obstetric care during her medical training.
The hospital has a modern obstetric unit with state-of-the-art facilities.
Common obstetric procedures were discussed in the prenatal class.