indigestion
UK: ˌɪn.dɪˈdʒes.tʃən | US: ˌɪn.dɪˈdʒes.tʃən
n. discomfort or pain in the stomach caused by difficulty in digesting food
n. (figurative) difficulty in processing or accepting something mentally or emotionally
indigestion = in<not> + digest<break down food> + ion<noun suffix>
- in-: A Latin prefix meaning "not" or "opposite of," often used to negate the root word.
- digest: From Latin digestus (past participle of digerere), meaning "to break down food" or "separate systematically."
- -ion: A noun-forming suffix indicating an action, process, or state.
Etymology Origin:
The word "indigestion" originates from Latin indigestio, combining in- (negation) + digestio (digestion). It reflects the literal inability to break down food properly. Over time, it also gained figurative use for mental or emotional "undigested" experiences. The morphemes retain their original spelling, making the word easy to reconstruct and understand.
Eating too quickly often leads to indigestion.
She suffered from chronic indigestion after meals.
The novel’s complex themes gave him a kind of mental indigestion.
Spicy foods can trigger indigestion in some people.
His speech left the audience with a sense of indigestion—too much information at once.