n. [ L. purgamentum offscourings, washings, expiatory sacrifice. See Purge. ] 1. That which is excreted; excretion. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) A cathartic; a purgative. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]

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

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

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

n. [ Cf. F. purge. See Purge, v. t. ] 1. The act of purging. [ 1913 Webster ]

The preparative for the purge of paganism of the kingdom of Northumberland. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which purges; especially, a medicine that evacuates the intestines; a cathartic. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To become pure, as by clarification. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To have or produce frequent evacuations from the intestines, as by means of a cathartic. [ 1913 Webster ]