Also 7 supurate. [f. L. suppūrāt-, pa. ppl. stem of suppūrāre, f. sup- = SUB- 2 + pūr-, pūs PUS. Cf. F. suppurer.]
† 1. trans. To cause (a sore, tumor, etc.) to form or secrete pus; to bring to a head. Also absol. to induce suppuration. Obs.
1563. T. Gale, Antidot., I. vi. 4. When as all hope is paste by other medicines, then we take those in vse whyche doe suppurate.
1600. Surflet, Country Farm, III. lxxxiv. 626. This oile is singular good for to suppurate and ripen impostumes.
1694. Salmon, Bate’s Dispens. (1713), 696/2. It … dissolves or suppurates Venereal Buboes.
1779. Gentl. Mag., Feb., 80/2. When these tumours are suppurated and broke, or opened, they need only to be frequently cleansed.
2. intr. To form or secrete pus, come to a head.
1656. Ridgley, Pract. Physick, 131. A little swelling … which suppurating is like a Barly corn.
1732. Arbuthnot, Rules of Diet, in Aliments, etc. (1735), 348. This Disease … is generally fatal if it suppurates, the Pus is evacuated into the lower Belly.
1794–6. E. Darwin, Zoon. (1801), I. 441. If these glands suppurate externally, they gradually heal.
1843. R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xxvi. 331. If the ulcer suppurated freely, the dressing was used oftener.
1854. H. Miller, Sch. & Schm., vi. (1858), 119. My injured foot … suppurated and discharged great quantities of blood and matter.
1876. Trans. Clinical Soc., IX. 136. Although the cyst … had not suppurated.
† b. intr. (transf.) To exude like pus. Obs. rare.
1693. Evelyn, De la Quint. Compl. Gard., II. 38. By reason that the wound cannot soon be clos’d, and that the Gum Supurates through it.
Hence Suppurated ppl. a., Suppurating vbl. sb. (also attrib.); also † Suppurater = SUPPURATIVE sb.
1612. Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. (1653), 1. The incision Knife … for the opening of any Apostume suppurated.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., II. 45. If the Bubo give no hope of Suppuration … when you have used Suppuraters a long time [etc.].
1747. trans. Astruc’s Fevers, 123. Whilst they are simply obstructed, they are called crude; but if they begin to suppurate, they are called suppurated.
1758. J. S., Le Dran’s Observ. Surg. (1771), 83. Was it a Reflux of suppurated Pus?
1813. J. Thomson, Lect. Inflam., 304. These diversities in the appearance and duration of the suppurating process.
1822–7. Good, Study Med. (1820), I. 476. Where it [sc. the pancreas] was found suppurated and gangrenous.
1842. Abdy, Water Cure, 13. They remained … nearly two weeks, without suppurating.
