precaecal
|pre-cae-cal|
/priːˈsiːkəl/
before the caecum
Etymology
'precaecal' originates from Latin, specifically the prefix 'prae-' (later 'pre-') and the word 'caecum', where 'prae-' meant 'before' and 'caecum' meant 'blind (sack).'
'precaecal' changed from Medieval/Neo-Latin forms such as 'praecaecalis' (formed from 'prae-' + 'caecum') and eventually entered modern English usage as 'precaecal'.
Initially it meant 'relating to the area before the blind sac (caecum)', and this anatomical sense has been retained in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
situated or occurring anterior to the caecum (the beginning of the large intestine); located before the caecum in the digestive tract.
The precaecal portion of the intestine was examined for signs of inflammation.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/01 20:56