aperient

[ uh-peer-ee-uhnt ]

adjective

1. having a mild purgative or laxative effect.

noun

1. a medicine or food that acts as a mild laxative.

aperient

/ əˈpɪərɪənt /

adjective

1. laxative

noun

1. a mild laxative

Word History and Origins

Origin of aperient¹

1620–30; < Latin aperient- (stem of aperiēns opening, present participle of aperīre to open), equivalent to aperi- (apparently ap- , variant of ab- ab- + -eri- ) + -ent- -ent; the base -eri-, perhaps with an earlier shape *wery- or *twery-, occurs only in this verb and operīre to close ( cover, operculum )

Word History and Origins

Origin of aperient¹

C17: from Latin aperīre to open

Example Sentences

An old-fashioned piece of advice in distemper, and one always given, was that at the outset of the disease a dose of castor oil, or some other aperient, should be administered.

From Project Gutenberg

After male-fern capsules it is quite unnecessary to give any aperient.

From Project Gutenberg

They may, if any aperient be absolutely necessary, have a meal of boiled liver, a teaspoonful or two of pure olive oil poured over a little meat, or given from a spoon, or some cod liver oil, which may be voluntarily taken, and is equally efficacious.

From Project Gutenberg

Milk is very laxative, and sometimes, where there is no biliousness, a small saucerful makes a good aperient.

From Project Gutenberg

As to the aperient before pupping which we often see advised, it is a totally unnecessary interference with Nature, and when castor oil, a violent irritant to dogs, is employed, it is a sheer piece of cruelty, likely to have very bad effects.

From Project Gutenberg