Definition

1. Noun:
   • A physician specializing in obstetrics: An accoucheur is a doctor, typically a man, whose medical specialty is caring for women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the period immediately following delivery. The term is specifically for a male practitioner in this field.

Usage

• The word is a formal and somewhat dated term. In modern medical English, the gender-neutral terms obstetrician or OB/GYN (obstetrician-gynecologist) are universally preferred.
• It is used to refer specifically to the medical professional attending a birth.
  • The expectant mother was attended by a skilled accoucheur.
  • In the 19th century, the role of the accoucheur became more common in upper-class households.

Advanced Usage

• The term originates from French, where "accoucher" means "to give birth." The feminine form is accoucheuse.
• It can sometimes be used in historical or literary contexts to evoke a specific time period or setting.
  • The novel's setting included a scene with a nervous accoucheur summoned in the middle of the night.

Variants and Related Words

• Accoucheuse (noun): The female counterpart; a midwife or a female obstetrician. (Note: This is a distinct word, not the target word itself).
  • She trained to become an accoucheuse.
• Obstetrician (noun): The standard modern term for a physician specializing in childbirth and pregnancy.
• Midwife (noun): A healthcare professional, not necessarily a physician, who provides care during childbirth.

Synonyms

• Obstetrician: A doctor specializing in childbirth.
• OB/GYN: A physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology.

Antonyms

• Patient: The person receiving medical care.
• General practitioner: A doctor not specialized in obstetrics.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• To be in the hands of a good accoucheur: An old-fashioned phrase meaning to be under the care of a skilled birth attendant.
  • She was reassured knowing she was in the hands of a good accoucheur.

Noun

1. a physician specializing in obstetrics