obstetricate

English

Etymology

From obstetric +‎ -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Verb

obstetricate (third-person singular simple present obstetricates, present participle obstetricating, simple past and past participle obstetricated)

1. (obsolete) To assist in the manner or as if in the manner of a midwife.
   • 1664, J[ohn] E[velyn], “. Chapter XXI. Of the Fir, Pine, Pinaster, Pitch-tree, &c..”, in Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-trees and the Propagation of Timber in His Majesties Dominions. […], London: […] Jo[hn] Martyn, and Ja[mes] Allestry, printers to the Royal Society, […], →OCLC, page 53:

     Some adviſe us to break the ſhells of Pines to facilitate their delivery, and I have eſſay'd it; but to my loſs; Nature does obſtetricate, and do that office of her ſelf when it is the beſt ſeaſon; [...]

   • 1986, John McPhee, Heirs of General Practice:

     Whatever its effect on the soldiers, Paul's sermon on Areopagus has not been forgotten in Mars Hill, Maine, where the town's other doctor wears a cross in his lapel and has personally been obstetricated twice

Latin

Verb

obstetrīcāte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of obstetrīcō