[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/purge/)

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# purge

verb (purge, purges, purged, purging); noun (a purge, purges)

«purge» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purge/#m1)
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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purge/#m2)
3. To clean out completely: «purge the pipes», «purge old files from the computer». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purge/#m3)
4. (church) To make free from sin or guilt; to cleanse the soul. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purge/#m4)
5. (old, medicine) To empty the bowels with strong medicine. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purge/#m5)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purge/#x1)
- I purged all the old photos from my tablet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purge/#x2)
- The plumber purged the air from the radiators. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purge/#x3)
- The new king purged the palace of his brother's friends. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purge/#x4)
- In the story, the hero tried to purge his guilt by helping others. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purge/#x5)
- Mum had a big purge of the toy cupboard. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purge/#x6)
- Mansion, who has purged it of many errors without detracting from its old-fashioned quality. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purge/#x7)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/purge/#x1)
- 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/purge/#x2)
- 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/purge/#x3)

### 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.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «purge» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purge/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«purge» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/purge.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «purge» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/purge/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«purge» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/purge.html) on Mova free.