Pregnant

Pregnant

Adjective · /ˈpreɡnənt/ · carrying a developing child or young within the body

Definition

Pregnant describes the state of carrying a developing baby or young within the body — typically inside the uterus. In humans it refers to the period from conception to birth, lasting approximately forty weeks. The word is used for humans and many animals. Beyond the biological sense, pregnant also means richly significant or full of meaning: a pregnant pause, a pregnant silence.

Origin

From Latin praegnans — meaning with child — from prae (before) + a root related to gnasci (to be born). The word entered Middle English via Old French pregnante in the 14th century. The figurative sense — full of significance, loaded with implication — developed in English during the 16th century and remains in active use today.