Antidiarrhoic

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. A substance or medication used to reduce or stop the frequent passage of loose or watery stools to relieve diarrhea symptoms
2. An agent designed to alleviate or prevent the occurrence of diarrhea by slowing bowel movements and improving stool consistency
3. A remedy that counteracts diarrhea by decreasing intestinal motility and aiding in the control of abnormal bowel discharge

Etymology: The root of the condition's name is a vivid picture. Ancient Greek physicians called it "diarrhoia," from "dia," meaning "through," and "rhein," meaning "to flow," so the word literally described something flowing straight through the body. The same "rhein" root gives English "catarrh," a discharge that flows down from the head, and "rheum," a watery secretion. The remedy's name is a later construction. "Anti-" comes from Greek "anti," meaning "against," and the "-ic" ending makes it an adjective. Medical writers built it from classical parts to describe substances that work against that flow, so it is a technical formation rather than an ancient term. The exact date of its first use in English is uncertain, but it belongs to the modern medical vocabulary.

Synonyms: antidiarrheal, antimotility, absorbent, astringent, antisecretory

Antonyms: laxative, diarrheic, cathartic, purgative