a·nal [áyn’l] adjective 1. anatomy relating to anus: relating to or situated near the anus 2. psychoanalysis relating to childhood interest in defecation: in Freudian theory, relating to a stage of childhood psychosexual development during which the focus is on the anal region and functions 3. psychoanalysis obsessively self-controlled: in Freudian theory, relating to adult personality traits that are considered to have originated during or be characteristic of the anal stage of development, e.g. obsessive neatness, stubbornness, and frugality [Mid-18th century. < modern Latin analis < anus (see anus)] -a·nal·ly, adverb