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congenital

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con⋅gen⋅i⋅tal

  [kuhn-jen-i-tl]
Use congenital in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of or pertaining to a condition present at birth, whether inherited or caused by the environment, esp. the uterine environment.
2. having by nature a specified character: a congenital fool.
Origin:
1790–1800; < L congenit(us) connate (con- con- + geni-, var. s. of gignere to give birth + -tus ptp. suffix) + -al 1

Related forms:
con⋅gen⋅i⋅tal⋅ly, adverb
con⋅gen⋅i⋅tal⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. See innate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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con·gen·i·tal   (kən-jěn'ĭ-tl)   
adj.  

  1. Of or relating to a condition that is present at birth, as a result of either heredity or environmental influences: a congenital heart defect; congenital syphilis.

  2. Being or having an essential characteristic as if by nature; inherent or inveterate: "the congenital American optimism that denies conflicts and imagines all stories having happy endings" (Robert J. Samuelson). See Synonyms at innate.


[From Latin congenitus : com-, com- + genitus, born, past participle of gignere, to bear; see genə- in Indo-European roots.]
con·gen'i·tal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

congenital [(kuhn-jen-i-tl)]

A descriptive term for a disease or condition that is present at birth. A congenital disease can be either hereditary or acquired.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: con·gen·i·tal
Pronunciation: kän-'jen-&-t&l
Function: adjective
1 : existing at or datingfrom birth <congenital deafness>
2 : acquired during development in the uterus and not through heredity <congenital syphilis> —compare ACQUIRED 2 FAMILIAL, HEREDITARY —con·gen·i·tal·ly /-t&l-E/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

congenital con·gen·i·tal (kən-jěn'ĭ-tl)
adj.

  1. Existing at or before birth usually through heredity, as a disorder.

  2. Acquired at birth or during uterine development usually as a result of environmental influences.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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