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visceral

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vis⋅cer⋅al

  [vis-er-uhl]
Use visceral in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of or pertaining to the viscera.
2. affecting the viscera.
3. of the nature of or resembling viscera.
4. characterized by or proceeding from instinct rather than intellect: a visceral reaction.
5. characterized by or dealing with coarse or base emotions; earthy; crude: a visceral literary style.
Origin:
1565–75; < ML viscerālis, equiv. to viscer- (see viscera ) + -ālis -al

Related forms:
vis⋅cer⋅al⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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vis·cer·al   (vĭs'ər-əl)   
adj.  

  1. Relating to, situated in, or affecting the viscera.

  2. Perceived in or as if in the viscera; profound: "The scientific approach to life is not really appropriate to states of visceral anguish" (Anthony Burgess).

  3. Instinctive: visceral needs. See Synonyms at instinctive.

vis'cer·al·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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Word Origin & History

visceral 
1575, "affecting inward feelings," from M.Fr. viscéral, from M.L. visceralis "internal," from L. viscera, pl. of viscus "internal organ," of unknown origin. The bowels were regarded as the seat of emotion. The figurative sense vanished after 1640 and the literal sense is first recorded in 1794. The figurative sense was revived 1940s in arts criticism.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: vis·cer·al
Pronunciation: 'vis-&-r&l
Function: adjective
: of, relating to, or located on or among the viscera—compare PARIETAL 1 —vis·cer·al·ly /-r&-lE/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

visceral vis·cer·al (vĭs'ər-əl)
adj.
Relating to, situated in, or affecting the viscera.

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