Cathartic \Ca*thar"tic\, Catharical \Ca*thar"ic*al\, a. [Gr. ?,
fr. ? to cleanse, fr. ? pure; akin to F. chaste.]
1. (Med.) Cleansing the bowels; promoting evacuations by
stool; purgative.
2. Of or pertaining to the purgative principle of senna, as
cathartic acid.