puerperal
/pjuˈɜːrpərəl/
adjective
Origin
Latin
puerperus — childbearing
Overview
Meaning Now
- Relating to or occurring during childbirth, or the period immediately following birth.
Literal older meaning
pertaining to the bringing forth of children
Language path
Latin → English
Earliest form
puerperal
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term enters English via medical Latin, specifically used to describe conditions or fevers affecting women shortly after delivery, such as 'puerperal fever', which was a major cause of maternal mortality before the adoption of antiseptic practices in the 19th century.
Evolution
- Proto-Indo-European
*peh₂-
“to protect or feed”
- Latin
puer
“child”
combined with parere (to bring forth)
- Latin
puerperium
“childbirth”
- New Latin
puerperalis
“pertaining to childbirth”
- English, 17th century
puerperal
“relating to childbirth”
adopted into medical English
Connections
Word parts
puer
root
child
per
root
to bring forth (from parere)
al
suffix
pertaining to
Related across languages
French
puérpéral
puerperal
Explore next
Related to puerperal
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.