{ Ca*thar"tic (?), Ca*thar"ic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to cleanse, fr. &?; pure; akin to F. chaste.] 1. (Med.) Cleansing the bowels; promoting evacuations by stool; purgative.

2. Of or pertaining to the purgative principle of senna, as cathartic acid.