sage-femme

See also: sagefemme

French

Alternative forms

• sagefemme (post-1990 spelling)

Etymology

From Middle French sage-femme, from Old French sage-femme. By surface analysis, sage (“wise”) +‎ femme (“woman”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /saʒ.fam/

• Audio (Paris):

  (file)

Noun

sage-femme f (plural sages-femmes)

1. midwife

   Synonym: accoucheuse

Usage notes

Typically the word sage-femme is also used to designate a male midwife; sage-homme m is uncommon for this usage, and maïeuticien m is overly obscure.

Further reading

• “sage-femme”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Norman

Noun

sage-femme f (plural sages-femmes)

1. (Jersey) midwife

Synonyms

• accouocheuse
• gardgienne