All 4 Uses of
purge
in
Beowulf - (translated by: Gummere)
- So, from thee, thou sovran of the Shining-Danes, Scyldings'—bulwark, a boon I seek, — and, Friend-of-the-folk, refuse it not, O Warriors'—shield, now I've wandered far, — that I alone with my liegemen here, this hardy band, may Heorot purge!†
purge = get rid of
- From ravage had rescued the roving stranger Hrothgar's hall; the hardy and wise one had purged it anew.†
*purged = eliminated (got rid of)
- Thy Heorot purged, jewel-hall brightest, enjoy while thou canst, with many a largess; and leave to thy kin folk and realm when forth thou goest to greet thy doom.†
- — Shame he reckoned it, sharer-of-rings, to follow the flyer-afar with a host, a broad-flung band; nor the battle feared he, nor deemed he dreadful the dragon's warring, its vigor and valor: ventures desperate he had passed a-plenty, and perils of war, contest-crash, since, conqueror proud, Hrothgar's hall he had wholly purged, and in grapple had killed the kin of Grendel, loathsome breed!†
Definition:
get rid of things thought undesirable
The 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