Obstetricate
(Ob*stet"ri*cate) v. i. [L. obstetricatus, p. p. of obstetricare, fr. obstetrix.] To perform
the office of midwife. [Obs.] "Nature does obstetricate." Evelyn.
Obstetricate
(Ob*stet"ri*cate), v. t. To assist as a midwife. [Obs.] E. Waterhouse.
Obstetrication
(Ob*stet"ri*ca"tion) n. The act of assisting as a midwife; delivery. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
Obstetrician
(Ob`ste*tri"cian) n. One skilled in obstetrics; an accoucheur.
Obstetricious
(Ob`ste*tri"cious) a. [See Obstetric.] Serving to assist childbirth; obstetric; hence, facilitating
any bringing forth or deliverance. [Obs.]
Yet is all human teaching but maieutical, or obstetricious.
Cudworth. Obstetrics
(Ob*stet"rics) n. [Cf. F. obstétrique. See Obstetric.] The science of midwifery; the art of
assisting women in parturition, or in the trouble incident to childbirth.
Obstetricy
(Ob*stet"ri*cy) n. Obstetrics. [R.] Dunglison.
Obstinacy
(Ob"sti*na*cy) n. [See Obstinate.]
1. A fixedness in will, opinion, or resolution that can not be shaken at all, or only with great difficulty; firm
and usually unreasonable adherence to an opinion, purpose, or system; unyielding disposition; stubborness; pertinacity; persistency; contumacy.
You do not well in obstinacy
To cavil in the course of this contract.
Shak.
To shelter their ignorance, or obstinacy, under the obscurity of their terms.
Locke. 2. The quality or state of being difficult to remedy, relieve, or subdue; as, the obstinacy of a disease or
evil.
Syn. — Pertinacity; firmness; resoluteness; inflexibility; persistency; stubbornness; perverseness; contumacy.
— Obstinacy, Pertinacity. Pertinacity denotes great firmness in holding to a thing, aim, etc. Obstinacy
is great firmness in holding out against persuasion, attack, etc. The former consists in adherence, the
latter in resistance. An opinion is advocated with pertinacity or defended with obstinacy. Pertinacity is
often used in a good sense; obstinacy generally in a bad one. "In this reply was included a very gross
mistake, and if with pertinacity maintained, a capital error." Sir T. Browne. "Every degree of obstinacy
in youth is one step to rebellion." South.
Obstinate
(Ob"sti*nate) a. [L. obstinatus, p. p. of obstinare to set about a thing with firmness, to persist
in; ob (see Ob-) + a word from the root of stare to stand. See Stand, and cf. Destine.]
1. Pertinaciously adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course; persistent; not yielding to reason, arguments,
or other means; stubborn; pertinacious; — usually implying unreasonableness.
I have known great cures done by obstinate resolution of drinking no wine.
Sir W. Temple.
No ass so meek, no ass so obstinate.
Pope.
Of sense and outward things.
Wordsworth. 2. Not yielding; not easily subdued or removed; as, obstinate fever; obstinate obstructions.
