purgative
purgative Lexical Profile
purgative Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Strongly laxative; serving to evacuate or cleanse the bowels.
"Certain herbal teas have potent purgative properties and should be consumed in moderation."
Having the effect of purifying, cleansing, or ridding something of guilt, sin, or unwanted elements.
"Writing the memoir proved to be a deeply purgative experience after years of emotional turmoil."
• noun
A medicine or substance that strongly stimulates evacuation of the bowels; a strong laxative.
"The physician administered a mild purgative to prepare the patient's digestive tract for the examination."
Anything that cleanses, purifies, or serves to rid the mind or soul of impurities or emotional tension.
"Tragic drama was viewed by ancient philosophers as a necessary purgative for the human spirit."
• Rhymes for purgative
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English from Old French purgatif, from Late Latin purgativus ('cathartic, cleansing'), derived from Latin purgare ('to cleanse, purify'), a contraction of purus ('pure') and agere ('to drive, do').