dē-faeco (dēfēco, or defīco; cf. Ritschl ad Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 2), āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. [faex], to cleanse from dregs; to refine, purify, defecate, clarify (ante-class. and post-Aug.).
I Lit.: vinum, Col. 12, 33; Plin. 18, 26, 63, § 232: vindemiam, Vulg. Isa. 25, 6.—
B In gen., to cleanse, purify, wash : se, Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 2: membra, Prud. Cath. 7, 74: aërem, Veg. Vet. 1, 20, 3. —
II Trop., to purify; to make clear, serene; to set at ease : quicquid incerti mi in animo prius aut ambiguum fuit, nunc liquet, nunc defaecatum est, Plaut. Ps. 2, 4, 70: animus purgatus defaecatusque, Macr. Somn. Scip. 1, 8: mens, id. ib. 2, 12: literae defaecandae, Sid. Ep. 1, 1: caro ab omni defaecata labe vitiorum, Ambros. in Luc. 7, 141 fin. : nunc defaecato demum animo egredior domo, undisturbed, serene , Plaut. Aul. 1, 2, 1.— P. a. : dēfaecātus , a, um. — Comp. : caelum defaecatius ab omni labe, Ambros. in Psa. 118; Serm. 8; vindemiae, refined , Vulg. Isa. 25, 6.