wisewomen
Traditional female healers
Wisewomen is the plural of wisewoman—a woman credited with knowledge of healing, folk medicine, or the supernatural.
Historically, wisewomen served rural communities as herbalists, midwives, and advisors, occupying a role that could shade into accusations of witchcraft: The village wisewoman knew which plants eased childbirth.
The term now often appears in historical or fantasy contexts.
Practitioner using plant medicines
- midwifeChildbirth assistance professional
- curanderaTraditional spiritual healer
- apothecaryHistorical medicine preparer
- remediesTreatments that restore health
poultice · tinctures · medicinal · holistic · naturopathy · homeopathy · balm · salve
Female family leader
- croneWizened old woman
- grandmotherMother of a parent
- ancestressFemale from whom one descends
- village elderSenior community authority figure
keeper · tradition · counsel · respected · venerable · experience · guidance · storyteller
Foretelling through mystical means
- prophecyForetelling of future events
- clairvoyanceExtrasensory perception ability
- foresightAbility to anticipate futures
- premonitionAdvance sense of future events
omens · visions · oracle · fortune-telling · second sight · scrying · augury · portents
One who gives guidance
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
- judgementFormal ruling or opinion
- prudentExercising sound judgment
discernment · trusted · confidante · listener · mediator · peacemaker · problem-solver · secrets
herbalist
Practitioner using plant medicines
- midwifeChildbirth assistance professional
- curanderaTraditional spiritual healer
- apothecaryHistorical medicine preparer
remedies · poultice · tinctures · medicinal · holistic · naturopathy · homeopathy · balm · salve · healing
matriarch
Female family leader
- croneWizened old woman
- grandmotherMother of a parent
- ancestressFemale from whom one descends
village elder · keeper · tradition · counsel · respected · venerable · experience · guidance · storyteller · lineage
divination
Foretelling through mystical means
- prophecyForetelling of future events
- clairvoyanceExtrasensory perception ability
- foresightAbility to anticipate futures
premonition · omens · visions · oracle · fortune-telling · second sight · scrying · augury · portents · dreams
advisor
One who gives guidance
prudent · discernment · trusted · confidante · listener · mediator · peacemaker · problem-solver · secrets · advice
wisewomenphysicians
Medical doctors collectively
doctors · surgeons · medical doctors · medical professionals
wisewomenfools
Idiots or deceives
ignoramuses · simpletons · dunces · charlatans · quacks