dysentery

From Middle English dissenterie, from Old French dissenterie, from Latin dysenteria, from Ancient Greek δυσεντερία (dusentería), from δυσ- (dus-, “bad”) + ἔντερα (éntera, “bowels”).

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈdɪs.ənˌtɛɹ.i/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈdɪs.ən.tə.ɹi/, /ˈdɪs.ən.tɹi/

dysentery (countable and uncountable, plural dysenteries)

1. (pathology) A disease characterised by inflammation of the intestines, especially the colon (large intestine), accompanied by pus (white blood cells) in the feces, fever, pain in the abdomen, high-volume diarrhea, and possible blood in the feces.
   • 1959, “In Old Mexico”, Tom Lehrer (music):

     We ate, we drank, and we were merry / and we got typhoid and dysentery.

2. Diarrhea.

• shigellosis