What does enemata mean?
Enemata is the plural form of enema, a term for liquid introduced into the rectum through the anus, most often to relieve constipation by stimulating evacuation of the bowels, though certain types — such as retention enemata — deliver medication directly into the lower intestine. The word carries a distinctly clinical register: it appears chiefly in medical literature, nursing records, and older texts, while ordinary speech almost always uses the simpler plural 'enemas.' Derived from the Greek word meaning 'to inject,' it entered English through Latin in the early modern period, alongside its now-obsolete synonym 'clyster.' Though rarely encountered in casual conversation, enemata remains standard in formal medical contexts, particularly in British hospital practice and in descriptions of barium enemata used in radiological imaging of the colon.
nounEnemata is the plural of enema, referring to liquids injected into the rectum, typically to stimulate evacuation of the bowels or to administer medication.
- Liquids injected into the rectum to empty the bowel or introduce medication (plural of enema).
"The nurse prepared the enemata according to the physician's orders before the procedure."
"The ward sister recorded that two enemata had been given overnight with satisfactory results."
"Before the colonoscopy, the patient was administered enemata as part of the bowel preparation."
"Enemata" sounds like ancient Greek drama, but it's simply the old-fashioned plural of "enema" — and doctors still write it on charts today.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of enemata
The word traces back to the Greek 'enema,' meaning 'injection' or 'a thing infused,' from the verb 'enienai,' 'to send in.' It passed into Latin as 'enema,' retaining the Greek-style plural 'enemata.' English adopted both the singular and plural from Latin medical usage, with 'enema' attested from the late Middle Ages onward; the Latinate plural survives chiefly in clinical and scholarly registers.
Related word forms
How enemata is actually used
Enemata is the classical Latin-style plural of enema; it appears mainly in medical, historical, or formal writing. In everyday modern usage, the anglicized plural 'enemas' is far more common.
Easily confused with enemata
An anathema is something or someone detested or a formal curse, whereas enemata are plural forms of enema, a medical liquid introduced into the rectum.