purgation

Definitions

  • WordNet 3.6
    • n purgation the act of clearing yourself (or another) from some stigma or charge
    • n purgation a ceremonial cleansing from defilement or uncleanness by the performance of appropriate rites
    • n purgation purging the body by the use of a cathartic to stimulate evacuation of the bowels
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
    • Purgation 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.
    • Purgation (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. "Let him put me to my purgation ."
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Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
    • n purgation The act of purging; clearing, cleansing, or purifying by separating and carrying away impurities or whatever is extraneous or superfluous; purification; specifically, evacuation of the intestines by purgatives.
    • n purgation The act of cleansing from the imputation of guilt; specifically, in old law, the clearing of one's self from a crime of which one has been publicly suspected and accused. It was either canonical (that is, prescribed by the canon law, the form whereof used in the spiritual court was that the person suspected took his oath that he was clear of the facts objected against him, and brought his honest neighbors with him to make oath that they believed he swore truly) or vulgar (that is, by fire or water ordeal, or by combat). See ordeal.
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Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
    • n Purgation a purging: a clearing away of impurities:
    • n Purgation (law) the act of clearing from suspicion or imputation of guilt, a cleansing
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Quotations

  • Michelangelo
    Michelangelo
    “Beauty is the purgation of superfluities.”

Etymology

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
L. purgatio,: cf. F. purgation,. See Purge
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
Fr. purger—L. purgāre, -ātum—purus, pure, agĕre, to do.

Usage

In literature:

A purgative will also be found useful.
"Cattle and Their Diseases" by Robert Jennings
And if I know not how Purgation in general is effected in a Humane Body?
"The Sceptical Chymist" by Robert Boyle
If this is not effective a purgative must be given.
"Special Report on Diseases of the Horse" by United States Department of Agriculture
It occurs in several recipes of the Anglo-Saxon Leechdoms, as a strong and bitter purgative.
"The plant-lore and garden-craft of Shakespeare" by Henry Nicholson Ellacombe
The bowels should be freely moved by purgatives or enemata.
"Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities--Head--Neck. Sixth Edition." by Alexander Miles
When the strength admits of it, the purgative may be given every four or five days.
"North American Medical and Surgical Journal, Vol. 2, No. 3, July, 1826" by Various
This annual purgation of society, is perhaps another blessing of a tropical country.
"An Old Sailor's Yarns" by Nathaniel Ames
And within four days of this purgative process a marked change was noticeable.
"England and Germany" by Emile Joseph Dillon
There the purgative process goes forward, as explained in a previous chapter.
"Elementary Theosophy" by L. W. Rogers
He thinks it is purgative.
"Flowers of Freethought" by George W. Foote
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In poetry:

("If you would learn the woes that vex
Poor TANTALUS, down there,
Pray borrow of Papa an ex-
Purgated LEMPRIERE.)
"The Two Ogres" by William Schwenck Gilbert
"We have passed through our purgation,
Once again we are thy kin;
God, accept our expiation,
Maiden pure of mortal sin."
"Lita of the Nile" by Richard Doddridge Blackmore

Related words