purge
UK[pɜːdʒ]US[pɜːrdʒ]
v
To remove people or things from an organization, place, or system, often in a sudden or violent way.
v
To rid someone of an unwanted feeling, memory, or condition.
n
An act of removing people or things, especially those considered undesirable.
Morpheme Breakdown
pur
ge
pur
pure
ge
verb suffix
Etymology
The word 'purge' entered English in the late 14th century via Old French 'purgier', which itself descended from Latin 'purgare', meaning 'to purify, cleanse, or clear'. This Latin verb is a compound of 'purus' (pure, clean) and the suffix '-igare' (to make, do), thus carrying the literal sense 'to make pure'. The concept evolved from the physical and ritual cleansing of the body or objects to the more abstract and often political sense of forcibly removing impure or unwanted elements from a group or system. This semantic shift reflects the enduring metaphorical link between physical cleanliness and moral or ideological purity.
Analysis
Structure: pur (pure) + ge (verb suffix)
'pur' originates from Latin 'purus', meaning clean, pure. 'ge' is a common English verb-forming suffix, often derived from Old French '-gier' or Latin '-igare'.
Examples
The new leader vowed to purge the party of corruption.
She wrote in her journal to purge herself of guilt.
The political purge resulted in the imprisonment of thousands.