Pregnant

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈpɹɛɡnÉ™nt/

Alternative forms

• prægnant archaic
• pregnaunt obsolete

Origin

From Middle English preignant, from Old French preignant, pregnant, also prenant (compare archaic Modern French prégnant), partly from Old French preindre, priembre ("to press"), from Latin premere ("to press"), and partly from Classical Latin praegnans, variant of praegnas, probably from prae- ("pre-") + gnascī ("to be born").

Full definition of pregnant

Adjective

1. (not comparable) Carrying developing offspring within the body.I went to the doctor and, guess what, I'm pregnant!
2. (comparable) Having numerous possibilities or implications; full of promise; abounding in ability, resources, etc.a pregnant pause
• Shakespearewherein the pregnant enemy does much
3. (now poetic) Fertile, prolific (usually of soil, ground etc.).
• 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.vi: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.
4. (obsolete) Affording entrance; receptive; yielding; willing; open; prompt.
• ShakespearePregnant to good pity.

Synonyms

• (carrying offspring (standard)) expecting, expecting a baby, expectant, gravid (of animals only), with child, fertilized
• (carrying offspring (colloquial/slang)) eating for two, having a bun in the oven, in a family way, knocked up, preggers, up the duff
• (carrying offspring (euphemistic)) in an interesting condition, in a family way
• (having many possibilities or implications) meaningful, significant

Hyponyms

• (carrying developing offspring) in trouble

Noun

1. A pregnant woman.----