Cathartic
Pronunciation : Ca*thar"tic, Ca*thar"ic*al
Part of Speech : a.
Etymology : [Gr. chaste.]
Definition : 1. (Med.)
Defn: Cleansing the bowels; promoting evacuations by stool; purgative.
2. Of or pertaining to the purgative principle of senna, as cathartic acid.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
Pronunciation : Ca*thar"tic
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [Gr. (Med.)
Definition : Defn: A medicine that promotes alvine discharges; a purge; a purgative of moderate activity.
Note: The cathartics are more energetic and certain in action that the laxatives, which simply increase the tendency to alvine evacuation; and less powerful and irritaint that the drastic purges, which cause profuse, repeated, and watery evacuations. -- Ca*thar"tic*al*ly, adv. -- Ca*thar"tic*al*ness, n.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913