Defecate

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈdÉ›fɪkeɪt/, /ˈdÉ›fÉ™keɪt/

Alternative forms

• defæcate
• defaecate

Origin

From the participle stem of Latin dēfaecāre ("to purify"), from de- and faex ("dreg, impurity").

Full definition of defecate

Verb

1. (now rare) To purify, to clean of dregs etc.
• Boyleto defecate the dark and muddy oil of amber
• 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.

Usage notes

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

Synonyms

• (void one’s bowels) slang crap, obsolete drite, slang dump, informal pinch a loaf, informal, humorous drop a bomb, informal, humorous drop the kids off at the pool, vulgar shit, vulgar shite, vulgar take a shit, slang take a dump, informal drop a deuce

Related terms

• defecation
• fæces

Adjective

1. (obsolete) Freed from pollutants, dregs, lees, etc.; refined; purified.
• BatesTill the soul be defecate from the dregs of sense.----