Purgacioun

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The act of removing impurities or unwanted elements from something ; a medicinal treatment using a laxative to empty the bowels
2. The process of clearing away corrupt or harmful matter ; the use of a substance to cause evacuation of the intestines
3. Cleansing by eliminating foul or superfluous material ; a purgative remedy administered to purge the digestive tract

Etymology: "Purgacioun" is a Middle English spelling of "purgation," and in the medieval period it had a legal meaning as well as a medical one. An accused person could "make purgation" by swearing an oath of innocence, often backed by compurgators, neighbours or associates who swore to the accused's good character. Clearing one's name this way was a formal act of cleansing one's reputation, which is close to the Latin sense. The root is Latin "purgare," "to cleanse," built from "purus," "pure," and "agere," "to drive or do." Latin "purgatio" passed into Old French as "purgation," and English borrowed it from there. Its modern meanings, a medical emptying of the bowels or a ritual cleansing, still reflect that original idea of removing something unwanted.