I. What is swept or washed off, sweepings, offscourings, filth, dirt: “cloacam maximam, receptaculum omnium purgamentorum urbis,” Liv. 1, 56: “hortorum,” Tac. A. 11, 32: “cenae in pavimento,” Plin. 36, 25, 60, § 184: “ceparum,” id. 20, 5, 20, § 41: “oris,” Sen. Const. 2 fin.: “sanguinis,” Plin. 11, 37, 74, § 192.—As a term of reproach, refuse, dregs, filth, offscouring, outcast, Petr. 74; Curt. 6, 11, 2; 10, 2, 7: “purgamenta pro frugibus creat humus palustris,” weeds, Sen. Ep. 73, 16.—
B. Transf., washings, that which is washed up: “purgamenta freti aestuantis,” i.e. pearls, Col. 8, 9, 19: “tanquam purgamenta hujus mundi,” Vulg. 1 Cor. 4, 13.—
II. A means of purgation, purification, or expiation, an expiatory sacrifice, Petr. 134, 1.
