congen'ital

[L. con gen it us, with.] Existing at birth, referring to certain mental or physical traits or peculiarities, diseases, etc. Congenital is distinguished from inborn in that it is inclusive for that which is congenital may be something existing from the ovum or acquired at the moment of birth that which is inborn, on the other hand, is something engrafted upon the mind or body during the proce of development. An infective disease may be congenital, but not inborn; a vice of metabolism is inborn, being a true developmental error, something acquired during the proce of development, and not originating in intrauterine disease or injury.