If you chose No that a woman who concieves is not a mother unless she actually gives birth than?

Question

What do you think about the English Dictionary and it's definition of a Mother? The English dictionary definition of a mother is a woman who (conceives), gives birth to, or raises and nurtures a child. Do you believe the Dictionary is acurate? If not do you think we should still use it in our schools?

I just want to know if you think the dictionary is right or not? If not should we still use it?

Answer 1

The dictionary is accurate. People's interpretation of that definition is also important; would you really argue with a lady who sadly tells you, "I was a mother once, for a little while."

Answer 2

Do you celebrate your birthday as the day you entered the world or your day of conception. How can a person exist that has not even had a birthday?

How can the state say that this non-existent person has rights? They won't issue it a social security number until after it's born. They won't issue a death certificate if it emerges dead. There is no person until it is born. And until that time, if you require a woman to do something with her body that she doesn't want to do, then she is being enslaved.

EDIT:
I see that you picked a particular dictionary. The Random House Unabridged dictionary lists 19 definitions of "mother" and none of them include conception. It's interesting to me that you found one to back up your position without even telling us which one it is. Give your references next time.

Answer 3

lol, you are not reading the definition correctly. It does not say a mother is someone who "(conceives), OR gives birth to, or raises and nurtures a child", it says, ""(conceives), {and} gives birth to, or raises and nurtures a child." You are inserting an or where there is an and, get it? That is what the comma means. The dictionary is literally saying that a mother is someone who conceives AND gives birth, OR raises and nurtures a child.

Answer 4

Anyone who either gives birth, adopts or chooses to raise a child can be considered a mother. Also anyone who is older that a person considers a mother figure could also be sort of like a mother figure as well. I am raising my nephew who is now 7 yrs old and I often think of and refer to him as my third child. I have two natural children. I tell him that even though I am not his mother, I am taking on the motherly role. He sort of understands that since his own mother isn't around that I am like a mother to him.

Answer 5

The word "mother" is also a verb, which implies action. Whenever you nurture and care for a living being, you are "mothering" it. If a woman carries a child for any length of time, then she is a mother. I actually prefer the vedic definition of a mother. There are six mothers: The earth, who sustains us, the cow, who gives us milk, our own mother, the wife of our spiritual adviser, the wife of a physician, (or a female physician), and any woman old enough to be your mother.

Answer 6

So, a woman who miscarries early in a pregnancy is a mother, now that's an interesting take on it. The first definition of mother in Merriam Webster's on line is "a female parent". The other definitions say nothing of conception making a mother out of a woman.

Answer 7

Consider that when that definition was laid down, birth almost inevitably followed conception (aside from numerous miscarriages and acts of god, but you get my meaning). I think the definition needs revising.

Especially since one can be a mother without conceiving - adoption, anyone?

Answer 8

Is it really that important to argue about this? :(

Yes, in my opinion (and apparently Webster's too), any time a woman gets pregnant she qualifies as a mother. Even if she has a miscarriage, or has an abortion. You wouldn't deny "mother" status to a woman whose baby dies the day after it's born, would you?

Frankly, I think it only really matters to the woman -- she can call herself a mother or not as she wishes. None of my business, just hers.

Answer 9

Your missing the key part there of raises and nurtures a child. You might be an incubator, but you aren't a mother until you raise the kid!

Answer 10

A woman can give birth and be a mother, but the woman who does all the above is a mom! Or adopts and does all the above.