World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesMedicine-woman
/ˈmɛd.ɪ.sɪnˌwʊm.ən/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A female healer, shaman, or herbalist in certain traditional or Indigenous cultures, especially among Native American peoples.
"The medicine-woman gathered various roots and leaves from the forest to prepare a soothing herbal tea for the sick child." - 2
A woman who practices traditional, alternative, or holistic medicine and spiritual healing arts.
"She was regarded in her modern rural community as a wise medicine-woman who understood the natural remedies of the earth."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the noun 'medicine' (from Latin 'medicina') combined with 'woman', historically coined in English during the 19th century to describe female traditional healers and shamans among Indigenous peoples of the Americas. It mirrors the structure of 'medicine-man' while specifically highlighting the gendered role of spiritual and herbal healing within tribal communities.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Medicine-woman"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Medicine-woman" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
femme médecin
Transliteration: fam med-sɛn
"La femme médecin a préparé un remède à base de plantes."
Heilerin
Transliteration: ˈhaɪlɐɪn
"Die Heilerin sammelte seltene Kräuter im Wald."
guaritrice
Transliteration: ɡwa.riˈtri.tʃe
"La saggia guaritrice ha curato gli abitanti del villaggio."
curandera
Transliteration: ku.ɾanˈde.ɾa
"La curandera usó hierbas medicinales para aliviar el dolor."
curandeira
Transliteration: ku.ɾãnˈdej.ɾɐ
"A curandeira preparou um chá especial com raízes da floresta."
वैद्या
Transliteration: vaidya
"वैद्या ने जड़ी-बूटियों से मरीज का इलाज किया।"
女巫医
Transliteration: nǚ wū yī
"女巫医用草药为村民治病。"
여성 의사주술사
Transliteration: yeoseong uisa jusulsa
"그 여성 의사주술사는 전통 방식으로 병을 고쳤습니다."
女呪医
Transliteration: onna ju-i
"その女呪医は自然の薬草を使って人々の病を治した。"
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