constipate

[ kon-stuh-peyt ]
See synonyms for: constipateconstipated on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),con·sti·pat·ed, con·sti·pat·ing.
  1. to cause constipation in; make costive.

  2. Informal. to cause to become slow-moving or immobilized; restrict the action or effectiveness of: Bureaucratic red tape can constipate the operations of any government agency.

  1. Obsolete. to crowd or pack closely together.

Origin of constipate

1
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English past participle constipat, from Latin constīpātus, past participle of constīpāre, equivalent to con- intensive prefix + Latin stīpāre “to crowd, press”); see origin at con-, stiff

Other words from constipate

  • con·sti·pat·ed, adjective

Words Nearby constipate

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How to use constipate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for constipate

constipate

/ (ˈkɒnstɪˌpeɪt) /


verb
  1. (tr) to cause constipation in

Origin of constipate

1
C16: from Latin constīpāre to press closely together, from stīpāre to crowd together

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