wise woman

A wise woman gathers healing herbs in the forest.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A woman who is knowledgeable or skilled in traditional healing, midwifery, or folk remedies: In historical or rural contexts, a "wise woman" is a woman recognized for her practical wisdom, especially in herbal medicine, childbirth assistance, or spiritual guidance.
   • A witch or sorceress (archaic): In older usage, a "wise woman" could refer to a woman believed to possess supernatural powers, often associated with fortune-telling or magic.
   • A midwife (archaic): Specifically, a woman who assists in childbirth, drawing on traditional knowledge.

Usage Examples

• (A woman skilled in folk medicine.)
• (A woman believed to have magical abilities.)
• (A midwife with traditional expertise.)

Advanced Usage

• "to consult a wise woman": to seek advice or treatment from a woman with traditional knowledge.

  • When the child fell ill, the family consulted the wise woman for a herbal remedy. (They sought her folk medicine expertise.)

• "wise woman of the village": a fixed phrase denoting a respected female healer or advisor.

  • The wise woman of the village was known for her calming presence and knowledge of plants. (The community's female expert in healing.)

Variants and Related Words

• Wise (adj): having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment.

  • She gave wise advice about saving money. (Her advice was prudent and sensible.)

• Wisdom (n): the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.

  • The wisdom of the old woman was sought by many. (Her deep understanding was valued.)

• Wise man (n): a man who is knowledgeable or skilled, often in a similar traditional role.

  • The wise man of the tribe taught the children about the stars. (A male counterpart to the wise woman.)

Synonyms

• Healer: a person who treats others medically, especially using traditional methods.
• Sage (female): a profoundly wise woman.
• Midwife: a person trained to assist women in childbirth (specific synonym for the midwife sense).
• Sorceress: a woman with magical powers (specific synonym for the archaic sense).

Phrasal Verbs

• To wise up (to something): to become aware of the truth or reality of a situation (related to "wise" but not directly to "wise woman").
  • She finally wised up to his lies. (She became aware of the deception.)

Related Idioms

• A word to the wise: a brief warning or piece of advice.

  • A word to the wise: don't trust everything you hear. (A short, cautionary statement.)

• None so wise as the wise woman: an old saying meaning that those with practical experience are often the most knowledgeable.

  • In matters of childbirth, none so wise as the wise woman. (The midwife's experience is unmatched.)