MID'WIFE, n. supposed by Junius and Skinner to be meedwife, a woman that has a reward. This is probably a mistake. The word is a compound of mid, with, and wif,a woman in analogy with the L. obstetrix, from obsto, obstiti, to stand before. L. cum, with, and madre, mother, which is precisely analogous to midwife.
A woman that assists other women in childbirth.
MID'WIFE, To perform the office of midwife.
MID'WIFE, To assist in childbirth.
The King James Bible has stood its ground for nearly 400 years. However, during that time the English language has changed, and with it the meanings of some words it used. Here are more than 6,500 words whose definitions have changed since 1611.Wikipedia
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