(verb) : dē-faeco (dēfēco, or defīco; cf. Ritschl ad Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 2), āvi, ātum, 1, faex
* To cleanse from dregs; to refine, purify, defecate, clarify (ante-class. and post-Aug.).
* Lit.: vinum,Col. 12, 33; Plin. 18, 26, 63, § 232: vindemiam,Vulg. Isa. 25, 6.
* In gen., to cleanse, purify, wash: se,Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 2: membra,Prud. Cath. 7, 74: aërem,Veg. Vet. 1, 20, 3.
* 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.

s. TLL