I.a cleansing, purging.
I. Lit.: cloacarum, Trajan. ap. Plin. Ep. 10, 41 fin.: “menstrua,” the monthly courses of women, Plin. 32, 10, 46, § 131; so, “feminarum,” id. 20, 9, 34, § 86; 20, 14, 53, § 148; 24, 13, 72, § 116; 30, 14, 44, § 129; Sen. Q. N. 3, 16: “alvi,” a purging, Cic. N. D. 3, 22, 57; “also simply purgatio,” id. Fam. 16, 10, 1.—
II. Trop.
A. A religious purgation or purification from guilt, an expiation, Plin. 15, 30, 40, § 135; Vulg. Heb. 1, 3.—