dysentery

[ dis-uhn-ter-ee ]
/ ˈdɪs ənˌtɛr i /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR dysentery ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Pathology. an infectious disease marked by inflammation and ulceration of the lower part of the bowels, with diarrhea that becomes mucous and hemorrhagic.
diarrhea.

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “vacillate” mean?
to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.
to cause to be empty or unoccupied.
to assent tacitly; agree; consent.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of dysentery

1350–1400; <Medieval Latin dysenteria<Greek, equivalent to dysénter(a) bad bowels (see dys-, enteron) + -ia-ia; replacing Middle English dissenterie<Old French

OTHER WORDS FROM dysentery

dys·en·ter·ic, adjectivepost·dys·en·ter·ic, adjective

Words nearby dysentery

dyschronogenic, dyscoria, dyscrasia, dysembryoma, dysencephalia splanchnocystica, dysentery, dyserethism, dysergia, dysesthesia, dysfibrinogenemia, dysfluency
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to dysentery

flux, diarrhea, diarrhoea, runs, summer complaint, tourista, trots

Example sentences from the Web for dysentery

British Dictionary definitions for dysentery

dysentery
/ (ˈdɪsəntrɪ) /

noun

infection of the intestine with bacteria or amoebae, marked chiefly by severe diarrhoea with the passage of mucus and blood

Derived forms of dysentery

dysenteric (ˌdɪsənˈtɛrɪk), adjective

Word Origin for dysentery

C14: via Latin from Greek dusenteria, from dusentera, literally: bad bowels, from dys- + enteron intestine
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

Medical definitions for dysentery

dysentery
[ dĭs′ən-tĕr′ē ]

n.

An inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract, usually caused by a bacterial, parasitic, or protozoan infection and resulting in pain, fever, and severe diarrhea, often accompanied by the passage of blood and mucus.

Other words from dysentery

dys′en•ter′ic adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for dysentery

dysentery
[ dĭs′ən-tĕr′ē ]

A gastrointestinal disease characterized by severe, often bloody diarrhea, usually caused by infection with bacteria or parasites.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for dysentery

dysentery
[ (dis-uhn-ter-ee) ]

A painful disease of the intestines characterized by inflammation and diarrhea. Dysentery may be caused by bacteria or viruses, or may occur as the result of infestation by an amoeba.

notes for dysentery

Dysentery can be transmitted by contact with water or food that has been contaminated by human waste. Public health and sanitation procedures in developed countries, however, have largely eliminated this means of transmission.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.