cholagogic
|cho-la-gog-ic|
🇺🇸
/ˌkoʊləˈɡɑdʒɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌkɒləˈɡɒdʒɪk/
promotes bile flow
Etymology
'cholagogic' originates from Late Latin, specifically the word 'cholagogicus', where the elements derive from Greek 'chole-' meaning 'bile' and '-agogos' meaning 'leading' or 'bringing forth'.
'cholagogic' changed from Greek 'χολαγωγός' ('cholagōgós') into Late Latin 'cholagogus'/'cholagogicus' and eventually entered English as 'cholagogic' via medical/Latin usage.
Initially, it meant 'leading or bringing forth bile,' and over time it has remained largely consistent, meaning 'promoting the discharge of bile' in medical usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
promoting or causing the discharge of bile from the gallbladder into the intestine; acting to expel bile.
The herbal tincture was described as cholagogic and was traditionally used to relieve biliary congestion.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 2
(historical/obsolete, humoral medicine) Causing a purging or evacuation of bile; used of remedies believed to correct an excess of bile.
In older medical texts many compounds are listed as cholagogic remedies intended to restore humoral balance.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/19 11:51