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cathartic

[kuh-thahr-tik]
adjective
  1. of or relating to catharsis.
  2. Also ca·thar·ti·cal. evacuating the bowels; purgative.
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noun
  1. a purgative.
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Origin of cathartic

1605–15; < Late Latin catharticus < Greek kathartikós fit for cleansing. See catharsis, -tic
Related formsca·thar·ti·cal·ly, adverbca·thar·ti·cal·ness, nounhy·per·ca·thar·tic, adjectivenon·ca·thar·tic, adjective, nounnon·ca·thar·ti·cal, adjectivesem·i·ca·thar·tic, adjectiveun·ca·thar·tic, adjective

Synonyms

3. laxative, physic.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

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British Dictionary definitions for cathartically

cathartic

adjective
  1. purgative
  2. effecting catharsis
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noun
  1. a purgative drug or agent
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Derived Formscathartically, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cathartically

cathartic

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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
cathartically in Medicine

cathartic

(kə-thär′tĭk)
adj.
  1. Inducing catharsis; purgative.
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n.
  1. An agent for purging the bowels, especially a laxative.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.