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DictionaryRoot: -alis
Latin

-alis

of, relating to

Forms

  • -alis
  • -aris — Latin variant especially used when the stem already contained l, avoiding a repeated l sound.
  • -al — English ending borrowed through French or directly from Latin.
  • -ar — English ending continuing Latin -aris.

Origin

An older Latin adjective-forming suffix; its more remote ancestry is uncertain.

Note

Expresses a relationship without specifying its kind: material, place, purpose, and other connections are possible.

285 / 291
adjective

visceral

VIS-er-ul/ˈvɪsərəl/

Relating to the internal organs of the body.

His hand rests over the visceral organs inside his abdomen.

White adult instinctively recoils with hand to stomach at disturbing sight.
Etymology
viscerLatininternal organ
+alLatinof, relating to

The internal organs, particularly the bowels, were regarded as the seat of emotion. A visceral response is therefore a deeply felt “gut” response rather than one reached through careful reasoning.

In context

BBC0:57
everything became kind of visceral and to see the sunrise was like wow
How psychosis bends your reality - BBC

More examples

  • Visceral pain can be difficult to locate precisely.
  • The doctor checks for visceral injuries after the accident.
  • The visceral pleura covers the surface of each lung.

Forms

viscera noun — The body's internal organs, especially abdominal organs.

Similar words

internal
Internal also describes structures inside things other than the body.