/ ˈpɜːgətɪv; NAmE ˈpɜːrg-/ noun
a substance, especially a medicine, that causes your bowels to empty
► pur·ga·tive adjective
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French purgatif , -ive , from late Latin purgativus , from purgat- purified, from the verb purgare purify, from purus pure.