Meaning

(anatomy, often pluralized) The alimentary canal of an animal through which food passes after having passed all stomachs..

Definitions by Sense

1. (anatomy, often pluralized) The alimentary canal of an animal through which food passes after having passed all stomachs.
2. One of certain subdivisions of this part of the alimentary canal, such as the small or large intestine in human beings.
3. Domestic; taking place within a given country or region.
4. Internal.
5. (rare) Depending upon the internal constitution of a body or entity; subjective.
6. (rare) Shut up; enclosed.

Example Sentences

Hoping here to end / Intestine war in heaven, the arch foe subdued.

It being true that now after fiue yeeres intestine warre with the reuengefull implacable Indians, a firme peace (not againe easily to be broken) hath bin lately concluded[…].

[W]riters ſhould ceaſe from inteſtine hoſtilities; and, inſtead of ſacrificing each other to malice and contempt, endeavour to avert perſecution from the meaneſt of their fraternity.

Yet the success of Trajan, however transient, was rapid and specious. The degenerate Parthians, broken by intestine discord, fled before his arms.

[…] surrounded by an enemy rendered desperate from the calamities of intestine war.

The subdivisions of the tribe have elders over them, to whose authority they frequently pay much more deference than to that of their Chan: they are appointed by popular election, and where distinguished by birth or affluence are called beys, elders, tarchans, or batuers; but if their conduct be such as to displease their constituents, they are deposed, and their office transferred to some other party—the natural consequence of these changes is intestine confusion and anarchy, and open defiance of the authority of the Chan and his council.

Now will any sensible person assert that five millions of Southerners, allowing all her white population to be in favor of Slavery, with an intestine foe, ready to spring upon her, as soon as the last chance of freedom presents itself, will be in danger of fighting twelve millions of free Northerners, who can call to their aid all these, and numerous other allies.

In the speech attributed to him in More's History of King Richard the Third: Buckingham argues that war is never so mischievous as when it is intestine.

Word Forms

• intestines

Synonyms for intestine

Related Words

When Should You Use Intestine?

Use intestine when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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