suppository

American  

[suh-poz-i-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / səˈpɒz ɪˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

noun

suppositories plural

1. a solid, conical mass of medicinal substance that melts upon insertion into the rectum or vagina.

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suppository British  

/ -trɪ, səˈpɒzɪtərɪ /

noun

1. med an encapsulated or solid medication for insertion into the vagina, rectum, or urethra, where it melts and releases the active substance

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• suppositories
  plural

Etymology

Origin of suppository

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin suppositōrium, equivalent to supposi-, variant stem of suppōnere ( see suppose) + -tōrium -tory ¹

Example Sentences

Vaginal Suppository Acid citric, 6 grainsAcid boracic, 1 dramCocoa butter, 90 grains Make into 12 suppositories.

From Family Limitation by Sanger, Margaret

But Clysters must be forborn on these Occasions, especially when one of the thick Guts is wounded, making use rather of a Suppository or laxative Diet-Drinks, to avoid dilation and straining.

From The Compleat Surgeon or, the whole Art of Surgery explain'd in a most familiar Method. by Le Clerc, Charles Gabriel

Related Words

• alleged
• assumed
• putative
• regarded
• rumored
• supposed