Pur*ga"tion (?), 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.
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.
Let him put me to my purgation.
Shak.
Pur"ga*tive (?), a. [L. purgativus: cf. F. purgatif.] Having the power
or quality of purging; cathartic. -- n. (Med.) A purging medicine; a
cathartic.
Pur"ga*tive*ly, adv. In a purgative manner.
{ Pur`ga*to"ri*al (?), Pur`ga*to"ri*an (?), } a. Of or pertaining to
purgatory; expiatory.
Pur`ga*to"ri*an, n. One who holds to the doctrine of purgatory.
Boswell.
Pur"ga*to*ry (?), a. [L. purgatorius.] Tending to cleanse; cleansing;
expiatory. Burke.
Pur"ga*to*ry, 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.
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.