Depurative

/ˈdɛpjərətɪv/ adjective

Definition

having the quality or function of purifying or cleansing; serving to remove impurities.

Etymology

From 'depurate' plus '-ive,' an adjective-forming suffix. The '-ive' suffix turns verbs and nouns into adjectives describing qualities or functions.

Kelly Says

Medieval herbalists classified plants as 'depurative'—meaning they could cleanse the body—and this term is still used in alternative medicine and herbal remedies to describe plants believed to have purifying powers!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.