What is the English translation of the Latin word 'rectum'?

Answer 1

This is the neuter past participle of the verb regere, which means "to make straight" or "to govern." It thus means "straightened" or "governed."

From the meaning "straightened" we get the anatomical term rectum, which is from the Latin phrase intestinum rectum, literally "straight intestine."

From the meaning "governed" we get the grammatical term rectum, which is from the Latin phrase nomen rectum, literally "governed noun." This term applies to a constituent of a phrase that is subordinate to the head word, or regens("governing"). For example, in the noun phrase "John's book," "book" is regens and "John's" is rectum.