This week’s theme
Words related to medicine

This week’s words
antitussive
aperient
emetic
diuretic
analgesic

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(uh-PIR-ee-uhnt)

MEANING:

adjective: Having a laxative effect: stimulating evacuation of the bowels.
noun: Something that relieves constipation.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin aperire (to open). Ultimately from the Indo-European root wer- (to cover), which also gave us overt, cover, warranty, warren, garage, garret, garment, garrison, garnish, guarantee, and pert. Earliest documented use: 1626.

USAGE:

“Who is this wretched fellow Currie? What gives him the authority to criticise our world-standard cartoonist? I will pin his letter on my bathroom wall where its words will act as a cheap aperient, when required, and thus help preserve my boyish good looks.”
Daily Political Satire One of Cartoonist’s Most Demanding Roles; The Advertiser (Adelaide, Australia); Apr 14, 1995.

See more usage examples of aperient in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: