laxative
[lak-suh-tiv]
- a medicine or agent for relieving constipation.
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- of, relating to, or constituting a laxative; purgative.
- Archaic.
- (of the bowels) subject to looseness.
- (of a disease) characterized by looseness of the bowels.
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Origin of laxative
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for laxative
Contemporary Examples
And around 1817, Randel, who seemed to be having liver trouble, received large doses of mercury as a laxative.
Bruni candidly writes of his weight struggles, which included bulimia, laxative abuse, and junk-food binges.
Historical Examples
The food should be appetizing, nutritious, and of a laxative nature.
The Mother and Her ChildWilliam S. Sadler
As they have laxative powers, they help to purify the blood up to a limit.
A Guide to HealthMahatma Gandhi
Alkaloids and drugs used for a laxative effect were not found.
Administered to invalids it is cooling, refreshing, and laxative.
British PomologyRobert Hogg
It is also important to give the cow a sloppy, laxative diet.
Special Report on Diseases of CattleU.S. Department of Agriculture
laxative
- an agent stimulating evacuation of faeces
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- stimulating evacuation of faeces
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Word Origin
C14 (originally: relaxing): from Medieval Latin laxātīvus, from Latin laxāre to loosen
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for laxative
adj.
late 14c., from Old French laxatif (13c.), from Medieval Latin laxativus "loosening," from Latin laxatus, past participle of laxare "loosen," from laxus "loose, lax" (see lax). The noun meaning "a laxative medicine" is from late 14c.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
laxative
(lăk′sə-tĭv)- A food or drug that stimulates evacuation of the bowels.
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- Stimulating evacuation of the bowels.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.