adjective
- of or relating to catharsis.
- Also ca·thar·ti·cal. evacuating the bowels; purgative.
noun
- a purgative.
adjective
- purgative
- effecting catharsis
noun
- a purgative drug or agent
adj.1610s, of medicines, from Latin catharticus, from Greek kathartikos “fit for cleansing, purgative,” from katharsis “purging, cleansing” (see catharsis). General sense is from 1670s. Related: Cathartical. adj.
- Inducing catharsis; purgative.
n.
- An agent for purging the bowels, especially a laxative.