suppository

[ suh-poz-i-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]

noun

, plural sup·pos·i·to·ries.

1. a solid, conical mass of medicinal substance that melts upon insertion into the rectum or vagina.

suppository

/ -trɪ; səˈpɒzɪtərɪ /

noun

1. med an encapsulated or solid medication for insertion into the vagina, rectum, or urethra, where it melts and releases the active substance

Word History and Origins

Origin of suppository¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin suppositōrium, equivalent to supposi-, variant stem of suppōnere ( suppose ) + -tōrium -tory ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of suppository¹

C14: from Medieval Latin suppositōrium, from Latin suppositus placed beneath, from suppōnere; see suppose

Example Sentences

Humans have been controlling their reproduction for all of recorded history, from ancient Egyptian vaginal suppositories made of animal dung to spermicidal ointments made with cedar and olive oil employed by 4th Century Greeks.

From Salon

That she and Franklyn task themselves with rewriting the copy instead of simply asking some lackey on the marketing team to request a less geriatric word for “suppository” is a colossal waste of their time.

From New York Times

It comes in vape pens, nasal sprays, dissolvable sublingual tablets, rectal or vaginal suppositories, skin creams and much more.

From Salon

“Sir, you may rest assured that I will not make The Style Invitational a suppository of bathroom humor.”

From Washington Post

By Wednesday evening, only three boxes of generic ibuprofen chewables, two boxes of generic acetaminophen chewables and six boxes of suppository acetaminophen remained.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• alleged
• assumed
• putative
• regarded
• rumored
• supposed