detumescence

American  

[dee-too-mes-uhns, -tyoo-] / ˌdi tuˈmɛs əns, -tyu- /

noun

1. reduction or subsidence of swelling.

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detumescence British  

/ ˌdiːtjʊˈmɛsəns /

noun

1. the subsidence of a swelling, esp the return of a swollen organ, such as the penis, to the flaccid state

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Other Word Forms

• detumescent adjective

Etymology

Origin of detumescence

1670–80; < Latin dētumēsc ( ere ) to cease swelling ( dē- de- + tumēscere to swell) + -ence; tumescent

Example Sentences

Even in childhood, these processes play an important part; indeed, they generally manifest themselves at an earlier age than the processes of detumescence.

From Project Gutenberg

With the onset of muscular action, which is mainly involuntary, even when it affects the voluntary muscles, detumescence proper begins to take place.

From Project Gutenberg

In the first place, one may exist when the other is absent, that is to say, the phenomena of detumescence or the phenomena of contrectation may appear in isolation.

From Project Gutenberg

The majority of sexual perverts trace back the origin138 of their perversion to a time at which the detumescence impulse had not yet been awakened.

From Project Gutenberg

This is true of both components of the sexual impulse, of the phenomena of contrectation, no less than of those of detumescence.

From Project Gutenberg