Added 10 October 2026
constipation
/ˌkɒnstɪˈpeɪʃən/ noun
Latin root: constīpātiō Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about constipation at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Irregular and infrequent or difficult evacuation of the bowels; can be a symptom of intestinal obstruction or diverticulitis.
- The act of making something futile and useless (as by routine).
Origin
First attested in the beginning of the 15ᵗʰ century, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English constipacioun, borrowed from Medieval Latin constīpātiō or its Old French equivalent, from cōnstīpō + -tiō. By surface analysis, constipate + -ion.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)