dysentery

From Old French dissenterie, from Latin dysenteria, from Ancient Greek δυσεντερία (dusentería), from δυσ- (dus-, “bad”) + ἔντερα (éntera, “bowels”).

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈdɪsənˌtɛɹi/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈdɪsəntəɹi/, /ˈdɪsəntɹi/

dysentery (countable and uncountable, plural dysenteries)

1. (pathology) A disease characterised by inflammation of the intestines, especially the colon (large intestine), accompanied by pus (white blood cells) in the feces, fever, pain in the abdomen, high volume of diarrhea, and possible blood in the feces.
   • 1959, Tom Lehrer (music), “In Old Mexico”:

     We ate, we drank, and we were merry / and we got typhoid and dystentery.

2. Diarrhoea

• amoebic dysentery
• dysenteric

• shigellosis