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purge

 - 7 dictionary results

purge

  [purj] verb, purged, purg⋅ing, noun
–verb (used with object)
1. to rid of whatever is impure or undesirable; cleanse; purify.
2. to rid, clear, or free (usually fol. by of or from): to purge a political party of disloyal members.
3. to clear of imputed guilt or ritual uncleanliness.
4. to clear away or wipe out legally (an offense, accusation, etc.) by atonement or other suitable action.
5. to remove by cleansing or purifying (often fol. by away, off, or out).
6. to clear or empty (the bowels) by causing evacuation.
7. to cause evacuation of the bowels of (a person).
8. to put to death or otherwise eliminate (undesirable or unwanted members) from a political organization, government, nation, etc.
9. Metallurgy.
a. to drive off (undesirable gases) from a furnace or stove.
b. to free (a furnace or stove) of undesirable gases.
–verb (used without object)
10. to become cleansed or purified.
11. to undergo or cause purging of the bowels.
–noun
12. the act or process of purging.
13. the removal or elimination of members of a political organization, government, nation, etc., who are considered disloyal or otherwise undesirable.
14. something that purges, as a purgative medicine or dose.
Use purge in a Sentence
Origin:
1250–1300; (v.) ME purgen < OF purg(i)er < L pūrgāre to cleanse; (n.) ME < OF, deriv. of the v.

Related forms:
purge⋅a⋅ble, adjective
purger, noun

Synonyms:
8. oust, liquidate, extirpate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To purge
purge   (pûrj)   
v.   purged, purg·ing, purg·es

v.   tr.

    1. To free from impurities; purify.

    2. To remove (impurities and other elements) by or as if by cleansing.

    3. To rid (a nation or political party, for example) of people considered undesirable.

    4. To get rid of (people considered undesirable). See Synonyms at eliminate.

    5. To cause evacuation of (the bowels).

    6. To induce evacuation of the bowels in (an individual).

  2. To rid of sin, guilt, or defilement.

  3. Law To clear (a person) of a charge or an imputation. Often used with respect to contempt of court.

    1. To rid (a nation or political party, for example) of people considered undesirable.

    2. To get rid of (people considered undesirable). See Synonyms at eliminate.

    3. To cause evacuation of (the bowels).

    4. To induce evacuation of the bowels in (an individual).

  5. Medicine

    1. To cause evacuation of (the bowels).

    2. To induce evacuation of the bowels in (an individual).

v.   intr.

  1. To become pure or clean.

  2. Medicine To undergo or cause an emptying of the bowels.

n.  

  1. The act or process of purging.

  2. Something that purges, especially a medicinal purgative.


[Middle English purgen, from Old French purgier, from Latin pūrgāre, from pūrus, pure; see peuə- in Indo-European roots.]
purg'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

purge  (v.)
c.1290, from O.Fr. purgier (12c.), from L. purgare "cleanse, purify," from Old L. purigare, from purus "pure" (see pure) + root of agere "to drive, make" (see act). The noun is recorded from 1563.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: purge
Pronunciation: 'p&rj
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: purged; purg·ing
1 : to clear (as oneself or another) of guilt <purged himself of contempt>
2 : to become no longer guilty of <purge the contempt>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1purge
Pronunciation: 'p&rj
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: purged; purg·ing
transitive senses
1 : to cause evacuation from (as the bowels) or of or from the bowels of purge the bowels> <purged the patient with a cathartic>
2 : to free (itself) of suspended matter usually by sedimentation —used of a liquid purge intransitive senses
1 : to become purged
2 : to have or produce frequent evacuations
3 : to cause purgation

Main Entry: 2purge
Function: noun
1 : something that purges; especially : PURGATIVE
2 : an act or instance of purging
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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purge (pûrj)
v. purged, purg·ing, purg·es
To cause evacuation of the bowels. n.

  1. The act or process of purging.

  2. Something that purges, especially a medicinal purgative.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
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