Menstruate

Menstruate

Verb · /ˈmɛn.stru.eɪt/

Definition

(Of a person with a uterus) to undergo menstruation — the regular monthly process of shedding the uterine lining when pregnancy has not occurred, accompanied by bleeding through the vagina; to have a period.

Origin

From Latin menstruatus, past participle of menstruare (to menstruate), from menstruus (monthly), from mensis (month). The same mensis root gives menstrual, menstruation, menopause, semester (Latin semestris, six-monthly, from sex menses), and is related to the Greek mēn (moon, month) and ultimately to Proto-Indo-European *mē- (moon, to measure), which also gives measure and moon.