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stillborn

[stil-bawrn]

adjective

  1. dead when born. bear. born.

  2. ineffectual from the beginning; abortive; fruitless.

    a stillborn plan of escape.



stillborn

/ ˈɪˌɔː /

adjective

  1. (of a fetus) dead at birth

  2. (of an idea, plan, etc) fruitless; abortive; unsuccessful

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a stillborn fetus or baby

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of stillborn1

First recorded in 1590–1600; still 1 + born
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Campaigner Jack Hawkins, whose daughter Harriet was stillborn in 2016, said families thanked the police for their "determined" work but added: "We are distressed that they were unable to find who did this."

From

One of their twins was stillborn and the other died a few hours after birth.

From

She goes on to explain to the group that Nicola had told her she was shocked when she had given birth to a stillborn baby.

From

He went to check on the foal and the mum but discovered another foal, stillborn, at the other side of the paddock.

From

"If he couldn't empty his bladder, he would either go on to be stillborn or live a very short life."

From

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ˈپˌٳstill frame