Webster's English Dictionary

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purge

1. purge \'p*rj\ vb [ME purgen, fr. OF purgier, fr. L purigare, purgare 
   to]purify, purge, fr. purus pure + -igare (akin to agere to drive, do) - 
   more at ACT 1: to clear of moral or ceremonial defilement  2: to remove by 
   cleansing  3a: to cause evacuation from (as the bowels)  3b: to free (as a 
   boiler) of sediment or relieve (as a steam pipe) of trap ped air by 
   bleeding 3c1: to rid (as a state) by a purge  3c2: to get rid of 
   (undesirable persons) : ELIMINATE  1: to become purged  2: to have or 
   produce frequent evacuations  3: to cause purgation  - purg.er n
2. purge n 1a: an act or instance of purging  1b: a ridding of elements or 
   members regarded as treacherous or disloyal  2: something that purges; esp 
   : PURGATIVE