How Do You Spell WET NURSE?

Pronunciation: [wˈɛt nˈɜːs] (IPA)

The term "wet nurse" refers to a woman who breastfeeds and cares for another person's child. The spelling of this word is straightforward, with "wet" pronounced as /wɛt/ and "nurse" as /nɜrs/. The sound /w/ represents the voiced labial-velar approximant, while /ɛ/ and /ɜ/ represent the open-mid front unrounded vowel and open-mid central unrounded vowel, respectively. The phonetic transcription /nɜrs/ includes the voiced alveolar nasal /n/ and the voiceless alveolar sibilant fricative /s/. Overall, the spelling of "wet nurse" reflects its pronunciation with clarity and coherence.

WET NURSE Meaning and Definition

1. A wet nurse refers to a woman who breastfeeds and cares for another woman's infant or child, serving as a substitute mother. The term "wet nurse" derives from the idea that the nurse's breasts become wet with milk due to lactation. Historically, wet nursing was common when a birth mother was unable or unwilling to nurse her own child. Wet nurses were hired or sometimes volunteered their services to nourish and nurture infants in need.

   The role of a wet nurse involves not only breastfeeding but also ensuring the overall well-being of the child, including bathing, changing diapers, and providing affectionate care. Wet nursing has been practiced for centuries in various cultures and societies, especially in situations where mothers faced challenges such as illness, inadequate milk supply, or social constraints.

   In modern times, wet nursing is less common due to advancements in infant formula and the cultural shift towards breastfeeding by birth mothers. However, there are still some instances where wet nursing may be employed, such as when a mother cannot produce enough breast milk or when a baby is unable to feed directly from the breast. Additionally, some women choose to become professional wet nurses, offering their lactation and caregiving services to families in need.

2. A nursing woman who gives suck regularly to the child of another.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

3. A nurse who suckles a child instead of its mother.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for WET NURSE

• qet nurse
• aet nurse
• set nurse
• eet nurse
• 3et nurse
• 2et nurse
• wwt nurse
• wst nurse
• wdt nurse
• wrt nurse
• w4t nurse
• w3t nurse
• wer nurse
• wef nurse
• weg nurse
• wey nurse
• we6 nurse
• we5 nurse
• wet burse
• wet murse

Etymology of WET NURSE

The word "wet nurse" has its origins in Old English. The term "wet" refers to the fact that the nursemaid would provide breast milk directly from her own breasts, as opposed to a dry nurse who would not nurse the infant. The word "nurse" comes from the Latin word "nutrire", which means "to nourish". So, taken together, "wet nurse" originally referred to a woman who nursed and nourished another woman's child with her own breast milk.