purgation

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: pur=ga=tion

CIDE DICTIONARY

purgation, n. [L. purgatio: cf. F. purgation. See Purge.].

•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  Wharton.  [1913 Webster]

  "Let him put me to my purgation."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

purgation, n.
1 purification.
2 purging of the bowels.
3 spiritual cleansing, esp. (RC Ch.) of a soul in purgatory.
4 hist. the cleansing of oneself from accusation or suspicion by an oath or ordeal.

Etymology

ME f. OF purgation or L purgatio (as PURGE)

THESAURUS

purgation

BM, Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, abreaction, absolution, abstersion, acquittal, acquittance, acting-out, asceticism, bloody flux, bowdlerization, bowel movement, catharsis, cleaning, cleansing, clearance, clearing, cold purgatorial fires, compurgation, crap, defecation, dejection, deliverance, destigmatization, destigmatizing, detersion, diarrhea, discharge, disculpation, dismissal, dry cleaning, dysentery, emotional release, evacuation, exculpation, excuse, exoneration, explanation, expurgation, fasting, flagellation, flux, forgiveness, freeing, hair shirt, intermission, justification, lientery, loose bowels, lustration, maceration, mortification, motor abreaction, movement, outlet, pardon, penance, penitence, penitential act, penitential exercise, psychocatharsis, psychodrama, purgatory, purge, purging, purification, quietus, quittance, rationalization, rehabilitation, reinstatement, release, release therapy, remission, removal, repentance, reprieve, respite, restoration, runs, sackcloth and ashes, shit, shits, steam cleaning, stool, surcease, suspension, trots, turistas, verdict of acquittal, vindication, voidance

ROGET THESAURUS

purgation

Cleanness

N cleanness, cleanliness, purity, cleaning, purification, defecation, purgation, lustration, detersion, abstersion, epuration, mundation, ablution, lavation, colature, disinfection, drainage, sewerage, lavatory, laundry, washhouse, washerwoman, laundress, dhobi, laundryman, washerman, scavenger, dustman, sweep, white wings brush, broom, besom, mop, rake, shovel, sieve, riddle, screen, filter, blotter, napkin, cloth, maukin, malkin, handkerchief, towel, sudary, doyley, doily, duster, sponge, mop, swab, cover, drugget, wash, lotion, detergent, cathartic, purgative, purifier, disinfectant, aperient, benzene, benzine benzol, benolin, bleaching powder, chloride of lime, dentifrice, deobstruent, laxative, clean, cleanly, pure, immaculate, spotless, stainless, taintless, trig, without a stain, unstained, unspotted, unsoiled, unsullied, untainted, uninfected, sweet, sweet as a nut, neat, spruce, tidy, trim, gimp, clean as a new penny, like a cat in pattens, cleaned, kempt, abstergent, cathartic, cleansing, purifying, neatly, clean as a whistle.

Atonement

N atonement, reparation, compromise, composition, compensation, quittance, quits, expiation, redemption, reclamation, conciliation, propitiation, indemnification, redress, amends, apology, amende honorable, satisfaction, peace offering, sin offering, burnt offering, scapegoat, sacrifice, penance, fasting, maceration, sackcloth and ashes, white sheet, shrift, flagellation, lustration, purgation, purgatory.