Definition: Pregnancy

From New World Encyclopedia
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Etymology

From pregnant from Middle English preignant, from Old French preignant, pregnant, also prenant (compare archaic Modern French prégnant), and their source, Latin praegnāns (“pregnant”), probably from prae- (“pre-”) + *gnāscī, an archaic form of nāscī (“to be born”) +‎ -cy.

Noun

pregnancy (countable and uncountable, plural pregnancies)

  1. (countable) The condition of being pregnant; an instance of this.
    News that the duchess is in the "very early stages" of pregnancy was officially released today
  2. The period of time this condition prevails.
  3. (uncountable) The progression of stages from conception to birth.

Derived terms

  • ectopic pregnancy
  • mask of pregnancy
  • phantom pregnancy
  • pregnancy test

Related terms

Credits

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