Purgation - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

pur·ga·tion

Audio Help [pur-gey-shuh

n] Pronunciation Key

–noun

the act of purging.

[Origin: 1325–75; ME purgacioun (< AF) < L pūrgātiōn- (s. of pūrgātiō) a cleansing, purging, equiv. to pūrgāt(us) (ptp. of pūrgāre to make clean or pure, deriv. of pūrus pure) + -iōn- -ion

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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Purgation

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

pur·ga·tion Audio Help (pûr-gā'shən) Pronunciation Key
n. The act of purging or purifying.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

purgation
noun
1.	purging the body by the use of a cathartic to stimulate evacuation of the bowels [syn: catharsis]
2.	a ceremonial cleansing from defilement or uncleanness by the performance of appropriate rites [syn: purification]
3.	the act of clearing yourself (or another) from some stigma or charge [syn: purge]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Purgation

Com`pur*ga"tion\, n. [L. compurgatio, fr. compurgare to purify wholly; com- + purgare to make pure. See Purge, v. t.]

1. (Law) The act or practice of justifying or confirming a man's veracity by the oath of others; -- called also wager of law. See Purgation; also Wager of law, under Wager.

2. Exculpation by testimony to one's veracity or innocence.

He was privileged from his childhood from suspicion of incontinency and needed no compurgation. --Bp. Hacket.

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