prenataladj.
/priːˈneɪtl/, U.S. /priˈneɪdl/ 1. That occurs or exists before birth; = antenatal adj. 1.In quot. 1895 with reference to the divinity of Jesus before birth.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > source or principle of life > birth > confinement > [adjective] > giving birth > before or after birth > before
antenatalitial1708
antenatal1796
prenatal1826
antepartum1853
prepartum1858
pre-delivery1946
1826 R. Southey Vindiciæ Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ 172 For his prenatal performances, and the other miracles of his early life..St. Fursey is as little entitled to discredit as to honour.
1874 H. R. Reynolds John the Baptist ii. 103 (note) The idea of John's pre-natal inspiration;..the supposed inspiration of the unborn John.
1877 Daily News 2 Oct. 2/4 Pre-natal intimations of modern discoveries and results are strewn through scientific literature.
1895 Haweis in Contemp. Rev. Oct. 599 There are what I may call the Prenatal Infusion clergy and the Postnatal Transfusion clergy.
1933 S. Walker Night Club Era 284 The real reason he took the plea instead of letting the waiters take a chance was that the head waiter was on the verge of becoming a father, and had a bad case of pre-natal jitters.
1967 Jrnl. Pediatrics 70 484 The children who have prenatal onset of small stature and continue to be small after birth without obvious chondrodystrophy, so-called primordial shortness of stature.
1990 Nation (N.Y.) 31 Dec. 844/1 Now the egg is the central concern, pregnancy and childbirth merely a chore, prenatal bonding a myth.
2. Of, relating to, or concerned with the health and well-being of women during pregnancy; = antenatal adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > pregnancy or gestation > [adjective] > relating to
gestative1828
gestate1854
gestatory1889
gestational1896
antenatal1910
prenatal1914
progestational1923
progestogenic1948
1914 Iowa City Daily Press 31 Aug. 7/3 The establishment of maternity centers, both prenatal and postnatal, throughout the country.
1938 New Statesman 19 Feb. 298/2 Pre-natal clinics are increasing.
1960 C. MacInnes Mr. Love & Justice 207 Step up to the pre~natal clinic, darling. See what they have to say.
1989 Omni Aug. 6/1 The new and controversial field of prenatal psychology..makes the birth experience more positive for both mother and child.
2000 Z. Smith White Teeth (2001) iv. 73 Alsana attends an Asian Women's Pre-natal Class in Kilburn High Road round the corner.
Derivatives
preˈnatally adv. in the prenatal stage or period; before birth; also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > source or principle of life > birth > confinement > [adverb] > before birth
antenatally1846
antepartum1857
prenatally1879
1879 A. W. Tourgée Fool's Errand xxxix. 286 That they were prenatally infected with the seeds of fatal disease.
1918 Jrnl. Amer. Folklore 31 25 It is popularly believed that a child may be affected prenatally in various ways.
1953 R. Lehmann Echoing Grove ii. 73 Already mid~summer dawn fainted pre-natally in the high uncurtained windows.
1992 Independent 28 Jan. 13/3 To intervene prenatally and produce a baby who survives but dies in childhood may not be acceptable.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1826