tenesmus /tɪˈnɛz.məs/ noun1 •A continual or recurrent but ineffectual inclination to evacuate the bowels, caused by disorder of the rectum or other illness.The general complaints of disease among us, were a dizziness in the head, great weakness of the joints, and violent tenesmus, most of us having had no evacuation by stool since we left the ship. — 1790 formstenesmuses