purg

n. [ L. purgatio: cf. F. purgation. See Purge. ] 1. The act of purging; the act of clearing, cleansing, or putifying, by separating and carrying off impurities, or whatever is superfluous; the evacuation of the bowels. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) The clearing of one's self from a crime of which one was publicly suspected and accused. It was either canonical, which was prescribed by the canon law, the form whereof used in the spiritual court was, that the person suspected take his oath that he was clear of the matter objected against him, and bring his honest neighbors with him to make oath that they believes he swore truly; or vulgar, which was by fire or water ordeal, or by combat. See Ordeal. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let him put me to my purgation. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. purgativus: cf. F. purgatif. ] Having the power or quality of purging; cathartic. -- n. (Med.) A purging medicine; a cathartic. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a purgative manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Of or pertaining to purgatory; expiatory. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who holds to the doctrine of purgatory. Boswell. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. purgatorius. ] Tending to cleanse; cleansing; expiatory. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. purgatoire. ] A state or place of purification after death; according to the Roman Catholic creed, a place, or a state believed to exist after death, in which the souls of persons are purified by expiating such offenses committed in this life as do not merit eternal damnation, or in which they fully satisfy the justice of God for sins that have been forgiven. After this purgation from the impurities of sin, the souls are believed to be received into heaven. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Purged p. pr. & vb. n. Purging ] [ F. purger, L. purgare; purus pure + agere to make, to do. See Pure, and Agent. ] 1. To cleanse, clear, or purify by separating and carrying off whatever is impure, heterogeneous, foreign, or superfluous. “Till fire purge all things new.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) To operate on as, or by means of, a cathartic medicine, or in a similar manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To clarify; to defecate, as liquors. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To clear of sediment, as a boiler, or of air, as a steam pipe, by driving off or permitting escape. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To clear from guilt, or from moral or ceremonial defilement; as, to purge one of guilt or crime. [ 1913 Webster ]

When that he hath purged you from sin. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. Ps. li. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Law) To clear from accusation, or the charge of a crime or misdemeanor, as by oath or in ordeal. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To remove in cleansing; to deterge; to wash away; -- often followed by away. [ 1913 Webster ]

Purge away our sins, for thy name's sake. Ps. lxxix. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

We 'll join our cares to purge away
Our country's crimes. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]