pregnation

English

Etymology

From Middle English pregnacioun, from Old French pregnacion and Latin praegnātiō.

Noun

pregnation (uncountable)

1. (obsolete) Pregnancy.
   • [1623, H[enry] C[ockeram], The English Dictionarie: or, an Interpreter of Hard English VVords. Enabling as Well Ladies and Gentlewomen, Young Schollers, Clarkes, Merchants, as Also Strangers of Any Nation, to the Vnderstanding of the More Difficult Authors Already Printed in Our Language, and the More Speedy Attaining of an Elegant Perfection of the English Tongue, Both in Reading, Speaking and Writing. Being a Collection of the Choisest Words Contained in the Table Alphabeticall and English Expositor, and of Some Thousands of Words Neuer Published by Any Heretofore., London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Edmund Weauer:

     Pregnation. Being great with childe. […] a being great with Childe. Pregnation, Grauidation.]

   • 1636, Iohn Sadler, The Sicke VVomans Private Looking-Glasse Wherein Methodically Are Handled All Uterine Affects, or Diseases Arising from the Wombe; Enabling Women to Informe the Physician about the Cause of Their Griefe, London: […] Anne Griffin, for Philemon Stephens, and Christopher Meridith, pages 160–161:

     But purging is more proper if it may bee done without danger, as it may in the fourth, fift and ſixt month of pregnation: for a child in the wombe is compared to an Apple on the tree.

   • 1653, William Harvey, Anatomical Exercitations, Concerning the Generation of Living Creatures: To Which Are Added Particular Discourses, of Births, and of Conceptions, &c., London: […] James Young, for Octavian Pulleyn, page 339:

     And that it may plainly appear, that the water (which is ſo plenteous in the Conception) is no excrement diſcharged by the Embryo, as either his Sweat, or Urine; it is leſſe (in proportion) neer the birth (when the fœtus is now more grown, and upon that account doth accumulate more excrement, becauſe he requires more nouriſhment) then in the firſt moneths of pregnation.

   • 1680, S[amuel] H[aworth], Ἀνθροπωλογία or, a Philosophic Discourse Concerning Man. Being the Anatomy Both of His Soul and Body. Wherein the Nature, Origin, Union, Immaterality, Immortality, Extension, and Faculties of the One, and the Parts, Humours, Temperaments, Complexions, Functions, Sexes, and Ages, Respecting the Other, Are Concisely Delineated., London: […] Stephen Foster, pages 188–189:

     The ordinary Computation of going with-Child obſerveth that time which our Bleſſed Saviour, the Perfecteſt of all Men did fulfil in the Virgins Womb; namely from the Day of Annunciation, which is in March, to the Bleſſed day of His Nativity, which is celebrated in December; and according to this Rule the Sager Matrons, keeping their Account (while they caſt in the wonted day in every Month wherein they were accuſtomed to have their Purgations) they are ſeldom out of their Reckoning; but Ten Revolutions of the Moon being expired, they are delivered, and reap the fruit of their Womb upon that very day; whereon were it not for their Pregnation their Purgations would enſue.

   • 1696, Iohn Edwards, A Demonstration of the Existence and Providence of God, from the Contemplation of the Visible Structure of the Greater and the Lesser World. In Two Parts. The First, Shewing the Excellent Contrivance of the Heavens, Earth, Sea, &c. The Second, the Wonderful Formation of the Body of Man., London: […] I. D. for Ionathan Robinson […], and Iohn Wyat […] , page 8:

     And the Womb is here call’d the loweſt parts of the Earth, it being a modeſt Expreſſion uſed by the Holy Ghoſt to denote thoſe ſecret and remote Paſſages which are appropriated to Conception and Pregnation.

   • 1698, James Keill, The Anatomy of the Humane Body Abridged; or, a Short and Full View of All the Parts of the Body. Together with Their Several Uses Drawn from Their Compositions and Structures., London: […] William Keblewhite, page 87:

     Upon these Membranes, especially towards the Cavity of the Womb, there are several Glands which separate an humour to lubricate the Cavity of the Womb in the time of Pregnation.