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sage-femme

midwife

noun sazh-FAM Rare
Body & Health Medicine

Origin: Literally 'wise woman' in Old French.

Usage Note

Sage-femme literally means 'wise woman' and is the standard French term for a midwife. The compound is always feminine (la sage-femme) even though the profession is now open to men; a male midwife is still formally called un sage-femme or increasingly un maïeuticien. The plural is sages-femmes. In France, sages-femmes have a wider scope of practice than in many other countries, including prescribing contraception.

Examples

"La sage-femme a suivi toute la grossesse."

Natural Translation

The midwife monitored the entire pregnancy.

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