recrement

[ rek-ruh-muhnt ]

noun

1. Physiology. a secretion, as saliva, that is reabsorbed by the body.
2. refuse separated from anything; dross.

recrement

/ ˈrɛkrɪmənt /

noun

1. physiol any substance, such as bile, that is secreted from a part of the body and later reabsorbed instead of being excreted
2. waste matter; refuse; dross

Derived Forms

• ˌrecreˈmental, adjective

Other Words From

• recre·mental adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of recrement¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French, from Latin recrēmentum “dross, refuse,” from re- re- + crē- (variant stem of cernere “to decide, separate, sift”) + -mentum -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of recrement¹

C16: via Old French from Latin recrēmentum slag, filth, from re- + cernere to sift

Example Sentences

Recrement, rek′rē-ment, n. superfluous matter: dross.—adjs.

From Project Gutenberg

The absorbent vessels of the embryon continue to drink up nourishment from the fluid in which they swim, or liquor amnii; and which at first needs no previous digestive preparation; but which, when the whole apparatus of digestion becomes complete, is swallowed by the mouth into the stomach, and being mixed with saliva, gastric juice, bile, pancreatic juice, and mucus of the intestines, becomes digested, and leaves a recrement, which produces the first feces of the infant, called meconium.

From Project Gutenberg

Associated words: metallic, metallurgy, metallography, metalliferous, metalliform, metalline, metallist, metallurgical, metallurgist, alloy, lode, dross recrement, bimetallic, bimetallism, monometallic, monometallism. minerals, n. pl.

From Project Gutenberg

The animal, in that case, would arm itself with its own refuse in the same way as it sometimes builds itself a home with its intestinal recrement.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• exuberance
• glut
• overkill
• surplus
• waste