Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- adj. 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.
- adj. 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.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- Produced or existing at birth; innate; native: as, congenital disease; congenital deformity.
Wiktionary
- adj. Present since birth.
GNU Webster's 1913
- adj. Existing at, or dating from, birth; pertaining to one from birth; born with one; connate; constitutional; natural. See connate and native.
WordNet 3.0
- adj. present at birth but not necessarily hereditary; acquired during fetal development
Etymologies
- From Latin congenitus : com-, com- + genitus, born, past participle of gignere, to bear; see genə- in Indo-European roots.
Examples
“The term congenital peculiarity, I may remark, is a loose expression and can only mean a peculiarity apparent when the part affected is nearly or fully developed: in the Second Part, I shall have to discuss at what period of the embryonic life connatal peculiarities probably first appear; and I shall then be able to show from some evidence, that at whatever period of life a new peculiarity first appears, it tends hereditarily to appear at a corresponding period {192}.”
The Foundations of the Origin of Species Two Essays written in 1842 and 1844
“Walsh DS, Hubbard AM, Olutoye OO, Howell LJ, Flake AW, Johnson MP, Adzick NS: Assessment of fetal lung volumes and liver herniation with magnetic resonance imaging in congenital diaphragmatic hernia.”
“Bootstaylor BS, Filly RA, Harrison MR, Adzick NS: Prenatal sonographic predictors of liver herniation in congenital diaphragmatic hernia.”
“This team is enhanced by a full spectrum of specialized staff in congenital heart and cardiac diseases from pharmacy, respiratory therapy, child life, social work and psychology.”
“Increased cell proliferation and, decreased apoptosis in congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation: Insights into pathogenesis.”
“Even as patients are living longer, most primary care physicians and adult cardiologists lack the appropriate training to provide care for the range of complex conditions seen in congenital heart disease patients.”
“Elevated PDGF-B in congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations (CCAMs) requiring fetal resection.”
“CCTGA requires life-long care by a cardiologist with expertise in congenital heart disease.”
Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries (CCTGA)
“Spinal cord dimensions in congenital thoracic scoliosis”
“Children who have had surgical reconstruction for HLHS require life-long care by a cardiologist experienced in congenital heart disease.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘congenital’.
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GRE Barrons Wordlist
A complete Barron's Wordlist for GRE preparation. Your online flashcard replacement.
abase, abash, abate, abbreviate, abdicate, aberrant, aberration, abet, abeyance, abhor, abject, abjure and 4084 more...
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gross
corpuscle, globule, botched, botulism, pustulent, swampy, splenic, distended, turgid, maw, retch, spew and 13 more...
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akin
-gen
“that which produces,â€
(Origin:
F -gène
Gk. genés 'born, produced';
L. genus, 'kin')mutagen, mutagenesis, pathogen, pathogenesis, progeny, mitogen, parthenogenesis, transgene, mucinogen, myogenic, autogenic, endogenous and 83 more...

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