Dys"en*ter*y (?), n. [L. dysenteria, Gr. &?;; dys- ill, bad + &?;, pl. &?;, intestines, fr. 'ento`s 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.

&fist; 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.

• (pathology) Inflammation of the intestines, especially the colon, characterised by pain in the abdomen, severe diarrhea and often with blood in the faeces.