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enema

[en-uh-muh]
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noun Medicine/Medical.
  1. the injection of a fluid into the rectum to cause a bowel movement.
  2. the fluid injected.
  3. Also called enema bag. a rubber bag or other device for administering an enema.
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Origin of enema

1675–85; < Late Latin < Greek: injection, equivalent to en- en-2 + (h)e- (stem of hiénai to throw) + -ma noun suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

needledosedraminoculationboosterenemavaccine

Examples from the Web for enema

Historical Examples

  • The most noticeable are the gigantic Megalosoma and Enema, armed with horns.

    The Andes and the Amazon

    James Orton

British Dictionary definitions for enema

enema

noun plural -mas or -mata (-mətə) med
  1. the introduction of liquid into the rectum to evacuate the bowels, medicate, or nourish
  2. the liquid so introduced
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Word Origin

C15: from New Latin, from Greek: injection, from enienai to send in, from hienai to send
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

Word Origin and History for enema

n.

early 15c., via Medieval Latin, from Greek enema "injection," from enienai "to send in, inject," from en "in" (see en- (2)) + hienai "send" (cognate of Latin iacere; see jet (v.)).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
enema in Medicine

enema

(ĕn′ə-mə)
n. pl. en•e•mas
  1. The injection of liquid into the rectum through the anus for cleansing, for stimulating evacuation of the bowels, or for other therapeutic or diagnostic purposes.
  2. The fluid so injected.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.