constipation

constipation
/kon'steuh pay"sheuhn/, n.
1. a condition of the bowels in which the feces are dry and hardened and evacuation is difficult and infrequent.
2. Informal. a state of slowing down, sluggishness, or inactivity.
3. Obs. the act of crowding anything into a smaller compass; condensation.
[1375-1425; late ME constipacioun ( < MF) < LL constipation- (s. of constipatio). See CONSTIPATE, -ION]

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      delayed passage of waste through the lower portion of the large intestine, with the possible discharge of relatively dry, hardened feces from the anus. Among the causes cited for the disorder are lack of regularity in one's eating habits, spasms of the large intestine, metabolic diseases such as hypothyroidism or diabetes mellitus, neurological disorders such as a stroke, certain medications including morphine, codeine, antidepressants (antidepressant), and antispasmodics, lack of sufficient fibre in one's food, and excessive use of laxatives (laxative). Constipation may also be caused by intestinal obstruction by tumours or polyps or by weakness of the abdominal muscles. Temporary constipation most often occurs in conjunction with a change or interruption in one's usual activities, as in travel, temporary confinement to bed, or a change in eating or sleeping habits. In most cases, dietary and lifestyle changes can help relieve constipation.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • constipation — [ kɔ̃stipasjɔ̃ ] n. f. • fin XIIIe; de constiper ♦ Difficulté dans l évacuation des selles. Laxatif contre la constipation. Constipation chronique. ⊗ CONTR. Diarrhée. ● constipation nom féminin (latin constipatio, onis) Rareté ou difficulté de l… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Constipation — Con sti*pa tion, n. [L. constipatio a crowding together: cf. F. constipation.] 1. Act of crowding anything into a less compass, or the state of being crowded or pressed together; condensation. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Fullness of matter, or a pretty …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • constipation — CONSTIPATION. subs. fém. État de celui qui est constipé. Une si longue constipation est dangereuse …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • constipation — Constipation. sub. f. v. Estat de celuy qui est constipé. Une si longue constipation est dangereuse …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • constipation — [kän΄stə pā′shən] n. [ME constipacioun < OFr constipation < L constipatio: see CONSTIPATE] a condition in which the feces are hard and elimination from the bowels is infrequent and difficult …   English World dictionary

  • Constipation — (v. lat. Constipatio alvi), Hartleibigkeit, Verstopfung; daher Constipirende Mittel u. Stoffe (Constipantia), Arzneien od. Nahrungsmittel, welche den Durchlauf hemmen u. Hartleibigkeit bewirken; Constipirt, verstopft, hartleibig …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Constipation — Constipation, lat., Verstopfung des Stuhlganges; constipirende Mittel, solche, welche C. verursachen …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • constipation — CONSTIPATION: Tous les gens de lettres sont constipés. Influe sur les convictions politiques …   Dictionnaire des idées reçues

  • constipation — (n.) c.1400, constriction of tissue, from L.L. constipationem (nom. constipatio), noun of state from L. constipare to press or crowd together, from com together (see COM (Cf. com )) + stipare to cram, pack (see STIFF (Cf. stiff) (adj.)). Specif …   Etymology dictionary

  • constipation — ► NOUN ▪ a difficulty in emptying the bowels, associated with hardened faeces …   English terms dictionary

  • Constipation — in a young child as seen by X ray. Circles represent areas of fecal matter (stool is opaque white surrounded by black bowel gas) …   Wikipedia

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