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 — 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
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
