Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “obstetricate” come from?

obstetricate (English) comes from English obstetric, from French obstétrique, from Latin obstetricus, from Latin obstetrix, from Latin obstō, from Latin ob-, from Latin obolus, from Ancient Greek ὀβολός — to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing.

obstetricate (English): To assist in the manner or as if in the manner of...

Definitions

  1. To assist in the manner or as if in the manner of...

Ancestry of “obstetricate”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishobstetricOf or relating to obstetrics
2Frenchobstétrique—
3Latinobstetricus—
4Latinobstetrixmidwife
5Latinobstō—
6Latinob-towards; against
7Latinobolusobolus
8Ancient Greekὀβολόςobol, obolus, used at Athens as both a weight and...
9Ancient Greekὀβελόςa spit, rod; a horizontal line
10Ancient Greekβέλοςmissile, arrow, dart; weapon; something quickly...
11Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷélHos—
12Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷelH-to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- →