Part 675

Purge, v. i. 1. To become pure, as by clarification.

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

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

The preparative for the purge of paganism of the kingdom of Northumberland.

Fuller.

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

Pur"ger (?), n. One who, or that which, purges or cleanses; especially, a cathartic medicine.

Pur"ger*y (?), n. The part of a sugarhouse where the molasses is drained off from the sugar.

Pur"ging (?), a. That purges; cleansing.

Purging flax (Bot.), an annual European plant of the genus Linum (L. catharticum); dwarf wild flax; -- so called from its use as a cathartic medicine.

Pur"ging, n. (Med.) The act of cleansing; excessive evacuations; especially, diarrhea.

Pur"i (?), n. (Chem.) See Euxanthin.

Pu`ri*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [F. purification, L. purificatio. See Purify.] 1. The act of purifying; the act or operation of separating and removing from anything that which is impure or noxious, or heterogeneous or foreign to it; as, the purification of liquors, or of metals.

2. The act or operation of cleansing ceremonially, by removing any pollution or defilement.

When the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished.

Luke ii. 22.

3. A cleansing from guilt or the pollution of sin; the extinction of sinful desires, appetites, and inclinations.

Pu"ri*fi*ca*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. purificatif.] Having power to purify; tending to cleanse. [R.]

Pu"ri*fi*ca`tor (?), n. One who, or that which, purifies; a purifier.

Pu*rif"i*ca*to*ry (?), a. [L. purificatorius.] Serving or tending to purify; purificative.

Pu"ri*fi`er (?), n. One who, or that which, purifies or cleanses; a cleanser; a refiner.

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Pu"ri*form (p"r*fÙrm), a. [L. pus, puris, pus + -form: cf. F. puriforme.] (Med.) In the form of pus.

Pu"ri*fy (-f), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Purified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Purifying (?).] [F. purifier, L. purificare; purus pure + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Pure, and -fy.] 1. To make pure or clear from material defilement, admixture, or imperfection; to free from extraneous or noxious matter; as, to purify liquors or metals; to purify the blood; to purify the air.

2. Hence, in figurative uses: (a) To free from guilt or moral defilement; as, to purify the heart.

And fit them so Purified to receive him pure.

Milton.

(b) To free from ceremonial or legal defilement.