- purgative
- purgative c.1400 (adj.), from O.Fr. purgatif (14c.), from L.L. purgativus, from L. purgatus, pp. of purgare (see PURGE (Cf. purge)). The noun is attested from 1620s.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
purgative
Look at other dictionaries:
Purgative — Pur ga*tive, a. [L. purgativus: cf. F. purgatif.] Having the power or quality of purging; cathartic. n. (Med.) A purging medicine; a cathartic. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
purgative — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ strongly laxative in effect. ► NOUN ▪ a laxative … English terms dictionary
purgative — [pʉr′gə tiv] adj. [ME purgatyf < MFr purgatif < LL purgativus] 1. that purges; purging 2. causing bowel movement n. a substance that purges; specif., a cathartic SYN. PHYSIC … English World dictionary
purgative — [[t]pɜ͟ː(r)gətɪv[/t]] purgatives 1) N COUNT A purgative is a medicine that causes you to get rid of unwanted waste from your body. [FORMAL] The doctors attempted to reduce his high fever by inducing diarrhea with a purgative. Syn: laxative 2) ADJ … English dictionary
purgative — ● purgatif, purgative adjectif (bas latin purgativus) purgatif nom masculin (bas latin purgativus) Se dit d une substance à l action laxative puissante et rapide. ● purgatif, purgative (synonymes) … Encyclopédie Universelle
purgative — noun (C) a medicine or food that makes your bowels empty themselves purgative adjective: Figs often have a purgative effect … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
purgative — UK [ˈpɜː(r)ɡətɪv] / US [ˈpɜrɡətɪv] noun [countable] Word forms purgative : singular purgative plural purgatives a food or drug that makes you go to the toilet … English dictionary
purgative — purgatively, adv. /perr geuh tiv/, adj. 1. purging or cleansing, esp. by causing evacuation of the bowels. n. 2. a purgative medicine or agent; cathartic. [1350 1400; < LL purgativus (see PURGATION, IVE); r. ME purgatyf < MF < LL, as above] * * * … Universalium
purgative — An agent used for purging the bowels. SEE ALSO: cathartic (2). [L. purgativus, purging] saline p. epsom salt, Rochelle salt, or any salt having p. properties. * * * pur·ga·tive pər gət iv adj purging or tending to purge: CATHARTIC pur·ga·tive·ly … Medical dictionary
purgative — I. a. Cathartic, abstergent, abstersive, cleansing, purifying, evacuant, detersive, detergent. II. n. (Med.) Purge, physic, cathartic, scourer, purgative medicine … New dictionary of synonyms
