Main Entry: ¹purge

Pronunciation: \ˈpərj\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): purged; purg·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French purger, from Latin purigare, purgare to purify, purge, from purus pure + -igare (akin to agere to drive, do) — more at act

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 a : to clear of guilt b : to free from moral or ceremonial defilement
2 a : to cause evacuation from (as the bowels) b (1) : to make free of something unwanted <purge a manhole of gas> <purge yourself of fear> (2) : to free (as a boiler) of sediment or relieve (as a steam pipe) of trapped air by bleeding c (1) : to rid (as a nation or party) by a purge (2) : to get rid of <the leaders had been purged>intransitive verb 1 : to become purged
2 : to have or produce frequent evacuations
3 : to cause purgation

— purg·er noun