defecate

Definitions

de- (away) + fec- (here from Latin faex/faec-, 'dregs, sediment') + -ate = 'to remove the dregs.' Note: this fec- is the 'dregs' root, only a homophone of the fac 'make' family — a same-form different-source case.

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The medical chart noted how often the patient defecated.

• 2.

  Train animals not to defecate indoors.