Both Uses of
purge
in
Oedipus the King
- Again the oracle was consulted and it bade them purge themselves of blood-guiltiness.†
*
- For, let alone the god's express command, It were a scandal ye should leave unpurged The murder of a great man and your king, Nor track it home.†
Definition:
-
(purge) get rid of things thought undesirableThe exact meaning of purge can depend upon its context. For example:
- "purge the government of our enemies" -- get rid of people for political reasons
- "purge my closet of everything I haven't worn in a year" -- get rid of undesired things
- "To purge yourself of crippling sorrow, you'll need to express it." -- get rid of unwanted feelings
- "I'm doing a 24-hour purge and then starting a new diet." -- emptying the intestinal tract