pregnant
adjectivenounadjectivecommon in dialogue
- //ˈpɹɛɡnənt//
- //ˈpɹeɪ̯ɡnənt//
Carrying developing offspring within the body.
adjective
- 1
Carrying developing offspring within the body.
I went to the doctor and, guess what, I’m five weeks pregnant!
I became pregnant in July 2014.
Once upon a time, not so long ago, women got pregnant and spent nine months in suspense before finding out if they were having a boy or a girl. But today? That waiting game is completely outdated, even quaint.
It suggests that pregnant women should be called pregnant people, presumably on the basis that just perhaps there may be a pregnant man somewhere.
- 2
Carrying developing offspring within the body. Of a couple: expecting a baby together.
We are pregnant.
- 3
Meaningful, having numerous possibilities or implications; full of promise; abounding in ability, resources, etc.
a pregnant pause
wherein the pregnant enemy does much
The many tear-jerkers deal with finality, with death and the end of love, with a stoicism pregnant with feeling.
- 4
Fecund, fertile, prolific (usually of soil, ground, etc.).
The sunne-beames bright vpon her body playd, / Being through former bathing mollifide, / And pierst into her wombe, where they embayd / With so sweet sence and secret power vnspide, / That in her pregnant flesh they shortly fructifide.
- 5
Pervaded by something, usually sth intangible.
The operations center was pregnant with anxiety.
- 6
obsoleteAffording entrance; receptive; yielding; willing; open; prompt.
play at subtill games; faire vertues all; To which the Grecians are most prompt and pregnant
- 7
obsoleteReady-witted; clever; ingenious.
Etymology
From Middle English preignant, from Old French preignant, pregnant, also prenant (compare archaic Modern French prégnant), and their source, Latin praegnāns (“pregnant”), probably from prae- (“pre-”) + *gnāscī, an archaic form of nāscī (“to be born”). Displaced Old English bearnēacen (literally "child-enlarged").
noun
- 1
A pregnant person.
The Entbundenen, or those already delivered, are separate from those pregnants awaiting their accouchement
adjective
- 1
archaicCompelling; clear, evident.
Peregrine was in a little time a distinguished character, not only for his acuteness of apprehension, but also for that mischievous fertility of fancy, of which we have already given such pregnant examples.
Etymology
Apparently from Middle French pregnant, preignant (“pressing, compelling”), present participle of prembre (“to press”), from Latin premere (“to press”).
Forms
- plural
- pregnants
- comparative
- more pregnant
- superlative
- most pregnant
pregnant · Carrying developing offspring within the body.
prehistoric · Of or relating to the epoch before written record.prejudice · An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without…prejudiced · Having prejudices.