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Defecate vs Purge - What's the difference?

defecate | purge |

In intransitive terms the difference between defecate and purge

is that defecate is to empty one's bowels of feces while purge is to have or produce frequent evacuations from the intestines, as by means of a cathartic.

As verbs the difference between defecate and purge

is that defecate is to purify, to clean of dregs etc while purge is to clean thoroughly; to cleanse; to rid of impurities.

As an adjective defecate

is freed from pollutants, dregs, lees, etc.; refined; purified.

As a noun purge is

an act of purging.

defecate

English

Alternative forms

* * defaecate

Verb

(defecat)
  • To purify, to clean of dregs etc.
  • * Boyle
  • to defecate the dark and muddy oil of amber
  • * , New York 2001, p.224:
  • Some are of opinion that such fat, standing waters make the best beer, and that seething doth defecate it […].
  • To purge; to pass (something) as excrement.
  • To empty one's bowels of feces.
  • Usage notes

    * The sense 'to purify' is rare in contrast to the common mean to empty bowels.

    Synonyms

    * drop the kids off at the pool, (vulgar) shit, (vulgar) shite, (vulgar) take a shit, (slang) take a dump, (informal) drop a deuce * See also

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Freed from pollutants, dregs, lees, etc.; refined; purified.
  • * Bates
  • Till the soul be defecate from the dregs of sense.
    ----

    purge

    English

    (wikipedia purge)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An act of .
  • (medicine) An evacuation of the bowels or a vomiting.
  • A cleansing of pipes.
  • A forcible removal of people, for example, from political activity.
  • Stalin liked to ensure that his purges were not reversible.
  • That which purges; especially, a medicine that evacuates the intestines; a cathartic.
  • (Arbuthnot)

    Verb

    (purg)
  • to clean thoroughly; to cleanse; to rid of impurities
  • (religion) to free from sin, guilt, or the burden or responsibility of misdeeds
  • To remove by cleansing; to wash away.
  • * Bible, Psalms lxxix. 9
  • Purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.
  • * Addison
  • We'll join our cares to purge away / Our country's crimes.
  • (medicine) to void (the bowels); to vomit.
  • (medicine) To operate on (somebody) as a cathartic, or in a similar manner.
  • (legal) to clear of a charge, suspicion, or imputation
  • To clarify; to clear the dregs from (liquor).
  • To become pure, as by clarification.
  • To have or produce frequent evacuations from the intestines, as by means of a cathartic.