Dys"en*ter*y (?), n. [L. dysenteria, Gr. ; ill, bad + , pl. , intestines, fr. within, fr. in, akin to E. in: cf. F. dysenterie. See Dys, and In.] Med.
A disease attended with inflammation and ulceration of the colon and rectum, and characterized by griping pains, constant desire to evacuate the bowels, and the discharge of mucus and blood.
⇒ When acute, dysentery is usually accompanied with high fevers. It occurs epidemically, and is believed to be communicable through the medium of the alvine discharges.
© Webster 1913.