purge

Everyday

1. To get rid of people, things or ideas that are not wanted, often harshly: «The ruler purged his enemies from the army.» tree →
2. (history) A purge: a time when a government or leader removes or punishes lots of people, sometimes killing them, as in the purges under Stalin. tree →
3. To clean out completely: «purge the pipes», «purge old files from the computer». tree →
4. (church) To make free from sin or guilt; to cleanse the soul. tree →
5. (old, medicine) To empty the bowels with strong medicine. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons it describes cruel removals of people by dictators; in computing and everyday life it means a big clear-out; in religion it means cleansing from sin. Phrases: «purge of», «a political purge», «purge the system».

Examples

• In the 1930s Stalin's purges killed and imprisoned huge numbers of people. tree →
• I purged all the old photos from my tablet. tree →
• The plumber purged the air from the radiators. tree →
• The new king purged the palace of his brother's friends. tree →
• In the story, the hero tried to purge his guilt by helping others. tree →
• Mum had a big purge of the toy cupboard. tree →
• Mansion, who has purged it of many errors without detracting from its old-fashioned quality. tree →

Note

Countable noun: a purge, purges. Related: purgatory (in Catholic belief, a state of cleansing after death), purification. In history, «purge» usually means something violent and unjust; in a tidy-up it is light.

In Jewish tradition

In the Tanakh to purge is to cleanse from sin, idols or dross, by removing what is wrong.

Interpretation. David asks God to cleanse him with hyssop, a plant used in purification rites. The tradition reads purging as forgiveness and renewal, as with a king who removes idols from the land.

Examples

• And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem. (Writings 2CH.34.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Writings PSA.51.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• And I will turn My hand upon thee, and purge away thy dross as with lye, and will take away all thine alloy; (Prophets ISA.1.25, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable noun: a purge, purges. Related: purgatory (in Catholic belief, a state of cleansing after death), purification. In history, «purge» usually means something violent and unjust; in a tidy-up it is light.