Aperient

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. Describing an agent that induces bowel activity and eases constipation in a mild manner
2. Causing gentle stimulation of the bowels to relieve constipation with mild effects
3. Serving to promote soft and easy bowel movements without harshness

Etymology: The most striking thing about "aperient" is how little it has drifted from its Latin source. It comes from "aperiens," the present participle of "aperire," meaning "to open," so a laxative is, in the most literal sense, something that opens the bowels. The Latin verb is the same root that gives English "aperture," the opening of a lens or gap, and the link is still visible in the medical sense. The word has been recorded in English since the early 17th century, when physicians and writers borrowed the Latin form directly rather than adapting it through French. Its use has stayed largely within medical and pharmaceutical contexts, where it names a mild remedy as opposed to a strong purgative.

Synonyms: laxative, purgative