dysentery

[ dis-uhn-ter-ee ]

noun

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

dysentery

/ ˌdɪsənˈtɛrɪk; ˈdɪsəntrɪ /

noun

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

dysentery

/ dĭs′ən-tĕr′ē /

1. A gastrointestinal disease characterized by severe, often bloody diarrhea, usually caused by infection with bacteria or parasites.

dysentery

1. 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

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.

Derived Forms

• dysenteric, adjective

Other Words From

• dysen·teric adjective
• postdys·en·teric adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dysentery¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Medieval Latin dysenteria, from Greek, from dysénter(a) “bad bowels” ( dys-, enteron ) + -ia -ia; replacing Middle English dissenterie, from Old French

Word History and Origins

Origin of dysentery¹

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

Example Sentences

By World War II, even as scientists were manufacturing gallons of phages to combat cholera, dysentery, and gangrene in Stalingrad and Leningrad, much the West had given up on phages.

From Salon

Jones plays Isaac Higgintoot, a member of the American Continental Congress who — appropriately, given his last name — died of dysentery while serving as a captain in the Revolutionary War.

From Los Angeles Times

Aid agencies say doctors in Gaza are also struggling to treat a huge caseload of dysentery, pneumonia, and severe skin diseases because of the collapse of the health sector.

From BBC

Cockroaches carry a wide range of diseases and pathogens including bubonic plague, dysentery, hepatitis, hookworms, leprosy, salmonella and polio.

From Salon

"There is no drinking water," Rouzatullah says, warning there might be outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as typhoid and dysentery.

From BBC