The word gynaecologist is built on Greek gyne, woman, pluslogy, science, which comes from the original Greek logos, meaning word; etymologically, gynaecology is the science (in actual use, the medical science) of women.
Obstetrician derives from Latin obstetrix, midwife, which in turn has its source in a Latin verb meaning to stand – midwives stand in front of the woman in labour to aid in the delivery of the infant.
The suffex -ician, as in obstetrician, physician, musician, magician, electrician, etc. , means expert.
The medical speciality dealing with childbirth is obstetrics (ob-STET’-riks). Adjective: obstetric (ob-STET’-rik).
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