[ad. L. expunctiōn-em, n. of action f. expungĕre: see next.]

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  1.  The action of expunging; an erasure.

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1606.  W. Crashaw, Rom. Forgeries & Falsific., G iij b. That which is to be corrected, may be done with some small addition or expunction.

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c. 1611.  Chapman, Iliad, II. Comm. (1857), 59. Of which verse his interpreters cry out for the expunction.

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1768.  Swinton, in Phil. Trans., LVIII. 249. The expunction of the L … and the substitution of the V in its stead.

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1810.  Bentham, Packing (1821), 188. The omission—and let us add the expunction—of names.

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1823.  W. Roscoe, trans. Sismondi’s Lit. Eur., xxxvi. (1846), II. 448, note. The consonant in the middle of the words being … fixed upon for expunction.

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  † 2.  A wiping out, removal. Obs.

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1615.  T. Adams, Leaven, 120. The Gospell intends the expunction of the old Image.

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1660.  Z. Crofton, Fasten. St. Peter’s Fetters, 64. Total expunction of such Doctrine.

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