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rectum (n.)
early 15c., from Latin intestinum rectum "straight intestine," in contrast to the convolution of the rest of the bowels, from neuter past participle of regere "to keep straight" (from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line"). A loan-translation of Greek apeuthysmeon enteron, "the name given to the lowest part of the large intestine by Galen, who so called it because he dissected only animals whose rectum (in contradistinction to that of man) is really straight" [Klein].
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Definitions of rectum from WordNet
Dictionary entries near rectum
rectitude
recto-
recto
rector
rectory
rectum
recumbent
recuperate
recuperation
recur
recurrence