intestine

English

The intestine, along with surrounding organs

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɪnˈtɛstɪn/
  • (Canada) IPA(key): /ɪnˈtɛstaɪn/
  • Rhymes: -ɛstɪn

Etymology 1

From Latin intestīnum, neuter of intestīnus (“internal”), as Etymology 2, below.

Noun

intestine (plural intestines)

  1. (anatomy, often pluralized) The alimentary canal of an animal through which food passes after having passed all stomachs.
  2. One of certain subdivisions of this part of the alimentary canal, such as the small or large intestine in human beings.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
See also

Etymology 2

From Latin intestīnus (“internal”), from intus (“within”).

Adjective

intestine (not comparable)

  1. Domestic; taking place within a given country or region.
    • 1615, Ralph Hamor, A True Discourse of the Present State of Virginia, Richmond 1957, p.2:
      It being true that now after fiue yeeres intestine warre with the reuengefull implacable Indians, a firme peace (not againe easily to be broken) hath bin lately concluded […].
    • 1776, Edward Gibbon, The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, ch.1,
      Yet the success of Trajan, however transient, was rapid and specious. The degenerate Parthians, broken by intestine discord, fled before his arms.
  2. (obsolete) Internal.
    • 1603, John Florio, transl.; Michel de Montaigne, The Essayes, […], printed at London: […] Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821:
      , I.41:
      When you have alleaged all the reasons you can, and beleeved all to disavow and reject her, she produceth, contrarie to your discourses, so intestine inclination, that you have small hold against her.
    • Milton
      Hoping here to end / Intestine war in heaven, the arch foe subdued.
    • Hume
      an intestine struggle […] between authority and liberty
  3. (obsolete, rare) Depending upon the internal constitution of a body or entity; subjective.
    • Cudworth
      Everything labours under an intestine necessity.
  4. (obsolete, rare) Shut up; enclosed.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Cowper to this entry?)

Italian

Adjective

intestine f pl

  1. feminine plural of intestino

Latin

Adjective

intestīne

  1. vocative masculine singular of intestīnus
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