expurgate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
    bowdlerise; bowdlerize; shorten; castrate.
    • bowdlerize a novel

WordNet

Ex"pur*gate transitive verb
Etymology
L. expurgatus, p.p. of expurgare to purge, purify; ex out, from + purgare to cleanse, purify, purge. See Purge, and cf. Spurge.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Expurgated; present participle & verbal noun Expurgating
Definitions
  1. To purify; to clear from anything noxious, offensive, or erroneous; to cleanse; to purge; as, to expurgate a book.

Webster 1913