Rectally

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Involving or pertaining to the passage or area at the end of the large intestine, especially when describing actions such as medical examinations, treatments, or drug delivery using that body part
2. By means of the rectum, often referring to methods of administering medication or conducting examinations through this body opening
3. In a manner involving the lower part of the large intestine, typically for medical procedures or drug delivery

Etymology: "Rectally" is simply "rectal" with the adverbial ending "-ly" attached, and the adjective "rectal" is itself a straightforward Latin-derived formation. The root is Latin "rectum," the neuter form of "rectus," meaning "straight" or "upright," which is also the source of words like "rectitude" and "rectify." The anatomical sense comes from the intestine's final straight section, the portion of the bowel that runs straight down rather than curving like the rest of the gut. The adjective "rectal" reached English through the Latin adjective "rectalis," formed from "rectum." The adverb "rectally" then follows the familiar English pattern: the Old English suffix "-līċe," which gave modern "-ly," was attached to an adjective to form an adverb describing how or where something happens. Its use is almost entirely medical, describing a route of administration or an examination carried out through the rectum.

Synonyms: anally