Fullterm

/ˈfʊlˌtɜːrm/ adjective

Definition

Lasting for or lasting until the end of the normally expected period, especially in medical contexts referring to a complete pregnancy.

Etymology

Compound of 'full' and 'term' (a set period of time), becoming standardized in medical English during the 19th-20th centuries as obstetrics professionalized.

Kelly Says

A 'full-term' pregnancy specifically means about 37-40 weeks—it's a surprisingly modern medical definition that shows how science made child development measurable and predictable.

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