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lavement

enema

noun lahv-MAHN Rare

Origin: from laver 'to wash'

Usage Note

Lavement is the medical term for an enema, an intestinal irrigation. It shares its root with laver (to wash) and lavage (rinsing/washing). In older literary French it occasionally meant any washing, but today it is exclusively medical.

Examples

"Le médecin a prescrit un lavement."

Natural Translation

The doctor prescribed an enema.

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