word for the day

cathartic

1 ca·thar·tic Pronunciation: k&-'thär-tik Function: adjective Etymology: Late Latin or Greek; Late Latin catharticus, from Greek kathartikos, from kathairein: of, relating to, or producing catharsis

catharsis

ca·thar·sis Pronunciation: k&-'thär-s&s Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural ca·thar·ses /-"sEz/ Etymology: New Latin, from Greek katharsis, from kathairein to cleanse, purge, from katharos 1 : PURGATION 2 a : purification or purgation of the emotions (as pity and fear) primarily through art b : a purification or purgation that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension 3 : elimination of a complex by bringing it to consciousness and affording it expression

purgation

pur·ga·tion Pronunciation: "p&r-'gA-sh&n Function: noun: the act or result of purging

purge

1 purge Pronunciation: 'p&rj Function: verb Inflected Form(s): purged; purg·ing Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French purgier, from Latin purigare, purgare to purify, purge, from purus pure + -igare (akin to agere to drive, do) -- more at ACT transitive senses1 a : to clear of guilt b : to free from moral or ceremonial defilement 2 a : to cause evacuation from (as the bowels) b (1) : to make free of something unwanted (2) : to free (as a boiler) of sediment or relieve (as a steam pipe) of trapped air by bleeding c (1) : to rid (as a nation or party) by a purge (2) : to get rid of intransitive senses 1 : to become purged 2 : to have or produce frequent evacuations 3 : to cause purgation- purg·er noun

with thanks to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary