Constipator

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A substance or agent that causes difficulty or infrequency in bowel movements; an element that leads to stoppage or obstruction in a process or flow; anyone or anything that impedes normal activity or progress
2. Something that induces constipation by slowing or blocking intestinal transit; an item or factor that obstructs or hinders regular functioning or movement; a person or thing causing delay or blockage in various contexts
3. An agent responsible for hardening stools and reducing bowel frequency; a cause of obstruction or interruption in events or operations; a person or tool that acts as a barrier to normal progression or flow

Etymology: The root of this word is Latin "constipare," built from "com-" meaning "together" and "stipare," meaning "to pack or press closely." In Latin, something that was constipated was crammed or crowded together, with no reference to the bowels. English kept that sense of compression for a time before the medical meaning of obstructed bowels took over. "Constipator" is formed from "constipate" by adding the suffix "-or," a common English ending for a person or thing that performs an action. It names whatever causes the condition, such as a drug, a food, or a habit. Because the medical sense of the verb is the one most people know, the agent noun follows that narrower meaning rather than the original idea of pressing things together.

Synonyms: blocker, obstructor, clogger, impeder, stoppage cause

Antonyms: unblocker, clearing agent, reliever, laxative, opener