aperient
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
noun
Etymology
Origin of aperient
1620–30; < Latin aperient- (stem of aperiēns opening, present participle of aperīre to open), equivalent to aperi- (apparently ap- , variant of ab- ab- + -eri- ) + -ent- -ent; the base -eri-, perhaps with an earlier shape *wery- or *twery-, occurs only in this verb and operīre to close ( see cover, operculum)
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Lax′ative, having the power of loosening the bowels.—n. a purgative or aperient medicine.—ns.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various
Sapodilla, sap-ō-dil′a, n. a name given in the West Indies to the fruit of several species of Achras, the seeds aperient and diuretic, the pulp subacid and sweet.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various
A sirup made from this plant is a valuable aperient in cattle practice.
From The American Reformed Cattle Doctor by Dadd, George
Given in doses of half an ounce of the powdered bark, it acts as an aperient, and is good wherever an aperient is indicated.
From The American Reformed Cattle Doctor by Dadd, George
He always said he knew nothing that cheered him up so, and was such a good aperient, as brush and comb.
From Titan: A Romance v. 1 (of 2) by Richter, Jean Paul Friedrich
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
