defecate

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Alternative spellings 1.4 Verb 1.4.1 Usage notes 1.4.2 Synonyms 1.4.3 Related terms 1.4.4 Translations 2 Italian 2.1 Verb form

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From the participle stem of Latin dēfaecāre (“‘to purify’”), from de- + faex (“‘dreg, impurity’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈdɛfɪkeɪt/, /ˈdɛfəkeɪt/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Alternative spellings

• defæcate (dated)
• defaecate (UK)

[edit] Verb

to defecate (third-person singular simple present defecates, present participle defecating, simple past and past participle defecated)

1. (now rare) To purify, to clean of dregs etc.
   • 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, New York 2001, p. 224:

     Some are of opinion that such fat, standing waters make the best beer, and that seething doth defecate it [...].

2. (now rare, transitive) To purge; to pass (something) as excrement.
3. (intransitive) To empty one's bowels of feces.

[edit] Usage notes

• The sense 'to purify' is rare in contrast to the common mean to empty bowels.

[edit] Synonyms

• (void one’s bowels): (slang) crap, (obsolete) drite, (slang) dump, (informal) pinch a loaf, (informal, humorous) drop a bomb, (vulgar) shit, (vulgar) shite, (slang) take a dump, (informal) drop a deuce
• See also Wikisaurus:defecate

[edit] Related terms

• defecation

[edit] Translations

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[edit] Italian

[edit] Verb form

defecate

1. Second person plural present tense and imperative of defecare.