rhizoverbBeta
DictionarypurgativeBowel emptying
noun / adjective

purgative

PUR-guh-tiv/ˈpɜːrɡətɪv/

A substance that empties the bowels.

The bottle of purgative sits beside a glass of water.

A medicine bottle clearly labeled 'Laxative' beside a glass of water, non-graphic.
Etymology
purgatLatinto cleanse, purify
+iveLatinhaving the capacity to

The cleansing base first described a medicine’s ability to expel impure matter from the body. The adjective then became a noun for a medicine that empties the intestines.

In context

Boring History For Sleep HQ44:54
The purgative works its way through your system with a brutal efficiency, leaving you feeling scoured, hollowed out, and profoundly weak.
The Surprisingly Simple Remedies of a Colonial American Apothecary | Boring History for Sleep

More examples

  • The doctor prescribes a purgative to relieve severe constipation.
  • Some medicines have a strong purgative effect.
  • She asks the pharmacist how quickly the purgative works.

Forms

purgative · purgatives

purge verb — To empty the bowels of their contents.

Similar words

laxative
Usually suggests a milder effect than a strong purgative.
cathartic
A medical term emphasizing thorough evacuation of the bowels.