purgatory

[pur-guh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]

noun

plural

purgatories 

1. (in the belief of Roman Catholics and others) a condition or place in which the souls of those dying penitent are purified from venial sins, or undergo the temporal punishment that, after the guilt of mortal sin has been remitted, still remains to be endured by the sinner.

2. Italian Purgatorio. (initial capital letter, italics),  the second part of Dante's Divine Comedy, in which the repentant sinners are depicted.

3. any condition or place of temporary punishment, suffering, expiation, or the like.

adjective

1. serving to cleanse, purify, or expiate.

purgatory

/ ˈpɜːɡətərɪ, -trɪ /

noun

1. RC Church a state or place in which the souls of those who have died in a state of grace are believed to undergo a limited amount of suffering to expiate their venial sins and become purified of the remaining effects of mortal sin

2. a place or condition of suffering or torment, esp one that is temporary

purgatory

1. In the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, the condition of souls of the dead who die with some punishment (though not damnation) due them for their sins. Purgatory is conceived as a condition of suffering and purification that leads to union with God in heaven. Purgatory is not mentioned in the Bible (see also Bible); Catholic authorities defend the teaching on purgatory by arguing that prayer for the dead is an ancient practice of Christianity and that this practice assumes that the dead can be in a state of suffering — a state that the living can improve by their prayers.

A “purgatory” is, by extension, any place of suffering, usually for past misdeeds.

Word History and Origins

Origin of purgatory¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; (for the noun) Middle English purgatorie, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin pūrgātōrium, noun use of neuter of Late Latin pūrgātōrius “purging,” from pūrgā(re) “to purge” ( purge ) + -tōrius -tory ¹; adjective derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of purgatory¹

C13: from Old French purgatoire, from Medieval Latin pūrgātōrium, literally: place of cleansing, from Latin pūrgāre to _purge

Example Sentences

He still has gas left in the tank, and he’s just in a state of purgatory.

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At the end of Season 2, we finally figure it out . . . that they are in a sort of purgatory.

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With his track record, who could count on Jarmond to find the coach who will elevate the Bruins from college football purgatory?

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For some it's retail paradise, while for others dragged along to carry the bags it can feel like a form of purgatory - but after 35 years Meadowhall continues to draw in shoppers.

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Everything else resides in a permanently fuzzy, unsettled background, a constant middle distance that traps the characters in their spiritual purgatory.

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Related Words

• limbo