Etymology of the English word defecate
the English word
defecatederived from the Latin word
defaecatio (cleansing, purifying)
derived from the Latin word
defaecatus (refined)
derived from the Latin word
defaecare (to cleanse; strain, clear; cleanse)
derived from the Latin word
faex (dregs; dregs, grounds; sediment)
using the Late Latin prefix
de-derived from the Latin word
de (away; down)
Date
The earliest known usage of defecate in English dates from the 16th century.
Derivations in English
defecated,
defecatingUsage
Word found in Modern English
