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constitutional

constitutional

1 7.2
A short walk taken regularly to keep healthy
  • noun
  • /ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃənl/
  • UK
translation icon : paseo
  • "You've confused matters a bit by telling us you went out for a constitutional at a time when you were actually in a room full of possible murder weapons." "Oh, sir, I didn't --
  • a daily constitutional

Examples

  • "Sister and I always find that a constitutional is a great restorative," she said brightly.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • She herself had a positive experience when, as a fledgling associate at a Philadelphia firm, she was assigned to a huge constitutional.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The Supreme Court's June 2012 decision finding the law constitutional also evenly divided the country, with 46% agreeing with the court and 46% disagreeing.

    Blog text (23)
  • Honduras's political class grasped clearly that to allow Zelaya's charisma to trump the nation's explicit constitutional

    Blog text (7)
  • She was walking with her little cart and tubes by the third day—a daily constitutional through the ward.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • I suspect/hope we won't go the way of e-voting machines any time soon, in spite of some of the shenanigans the Repukes have been trying to throw at us (we voted down a constitutional amendment referendum about "free" voter ID cards on election day this year, as well as against the proposal for a constitutional

    Blog text (28)
  • To improve her fitness, she always takes a constitutional in the park every morning.

  • He believes that a daily constitutional helps clear his mind and boost his energy.

  • Every afternoon, I take a brisk constitutional around the neighborhood to stay healthy.

Synonyms

walk
vsconstitutional
758 1.0

An act of moving on foot for exercise, pleasure, or travel

is specifically a regular health-focused activity
hike
vsconstitutional
126 1.8

A long walk in the countryside for exercise or pleasure

is usually shorter and done regularly for health rather than long trips
stroll
vsconstitutional
92 1.2

A slow easy walk taken for pleasure

is more often a regular health activity rather than casual leisure
perambulation
vsconstitutional
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A slow, relaxed walk in a public place like a park

is about routine health exercise rather than occasional leisurely outings

Compounds

84 4.1

A right that a country's most important law gives and protects, for example free speech

43 5.1

An official change to the main written law of a country or organization

An assembly of delegates in 1787 that wrote the main law for the United States government

A formal meeting of delegates to write or change a country's main law

An American political party that formed in 1859 to keep the country together before the Civil War

7.4

A part of economics that studies how a country's basic rules for government affect economic policy

A formal meeting to create or change a constitution

A theory that a person's character comes from their body type

How Vigorous

constitutional
  • UK
1 7.2
to walk
1.0
stroll
92 1.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

constitutional = constitutional (semi-transparent) = constitution + al

The noun is a converted use of the adjective, but the specific sense 'a walk' is lexicalized and only loosely motivated by the health-related adjective.

Etymology

The word constitutional for a short, healthy walk comes from constitution, which means the body's 'make-up' or 'health'. People took a 'constitutional' to improve their body's balance and strength.