Purge (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Purged (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Purging (?).] [F. purger, L. purgare;
purus pure + agere to make, to do. See Pure, and
Agent.] 1. To cleanse, clear, or purify by
separating and carrying off whatever is impure, heterogeneous,
foreign, or superfluous. "Till fire purge all things
new." Milton.
2. (Med.) To operate on as, or by means
of, a cathartic medicine, or in a similar manner.
3. To clarify; to defecate, as
liquors.
4. To clear of sediment, as a boiler, or of
air, as a steam pipe, by driving off or permitting escape.
5. To clear from guilt, or from moral or
ceremonial defilement; as, to purge one of guilt or
crime.
When that he hath purged you from
sin.
Chaucer.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be
clean.
Ps. li. 7.
6. (Law) To clear from accusation, or
the charge of a crime or misdemeanor, as by oath or in
ordeal.
7. To remove in cleansing; to deterge; to wash
away; -- often followed by away.
Purge away our sins, for thy name's
sake.
Ps. lxxix. 9.
We 'll join our cares to purge away
Our country's crimes.
Addison.
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.
