purify

[pyoo r-uh-fahy]

See more synonyms for purify on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), pu·ri·fied, pu·ri·fy·ing.

to make pure; free from anything that debases, pollutes, adulterates, or contaminates: to purify metals.
to free from foreign, extraneous, or objectionable elements: to purify a language.
to free from guilt or evil.

to clear or purge (usually followed by of or from).
to make clean for ceremonial or ritual use.

verb (used without object), pu·ri·fied, pu·ri·fy·ing.

to become pure.

Origin of purify

1250–1300; Middle English purifien < Middle French purifier < Latin pūrificāre. See pure, -ify

Related formspu·ri·fi·ca·tion, nounpu·rif·i·ca·to·ry

[pyoo-rif-i-kuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /pyʊˈrɪf ɪ kəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjectivepu·ri·fi·er, nounnon·pu·ri·fi·ca·tion, nounnon·pu·ri·fy·ing, adjectivere·pu·ri·fi·ca·tion, nounre·pu·ri·fy, verb, re·pu·ri·fied, re·pu·ri·fy·ing.self-pu·ri·fy·ing, adjectiveun·pu·ri·fied, adjectiveun·pu·ri·fy·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for purify

Contemporary Examples

"We have an Islamic government, an interior ministry trying to purify its image, and a conservative masculine society," he says.
Egypt’s Growing Gay-Rights Movement
Bel Trew
May 21, 2013
“I picture scientists finding new ways to purify water, or diagnose disease,” Sindi says.
Rebel With a Cause
Abigail Pesta
October 21, 2011
From just past the city limits came Ernest Hemingway to purify the American language and create another heroic legend.
Obamaville
Don Rose
November 6, 2008

Historical Examples

Germany, he said, had been divinely ordained to conquer the world and purify it.
The Story of the Great War, Volume III (of VIII)
Various
Then they strewed the grass on the sand, to purify it from taint of earth, and then they began.
Things as They Are
Amy Wilson-Carmichael
That your error may not increase, I will endeavour to purify your soul.'
Laws
Plato
The legislator must purify them, and if he be not a despot he will find this task to be a difficult one.
Laws
Plato
In our case, however, we shall only need to purify the streams before they meet.
Laws
Plato

British Dictionary definitions for purify

purify

verb -fies, -fying or -fied

to free (something) of extraneous, contaminating, or debasing matter
(tr) to free (a person, etc) from sin or guilt
(tr) to make clean, as in a ritual, esp the churching of women after childbirth

Derived Formspurification, nounpurificatory (ˈpjʊərɪfɪˌkeɪtərɪ), adjective

Word Origin

C14: from Old French purifier, from Late Latin pūrificāre to cleanse, from pūrus pure + facere to make

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for purify

v.

early 14c., "free from spiritual pollution," from Old French purefier "purify, cleanse, refine" (12c.), from Latin purificare "to make pure," from purus "pure" (see pure) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Meaning "free from extraneous matter" is recorded from mid-15c. Related: Purified; purifying.

purify

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}purify

Examples from the Web for purify

Contemporary Examples

"We have an Islamic government, an interior ministry trying to purify its image, and a conservative masculine society," he says.

“I picture scientists finding new ways to purify water, or diagnose disease,” Sindi says.

From just past the city limits came Ernest Hemingway to purify the American language and create another heroic legend.

Historical Examples

Germany, he said, had been divinely ordained to conquer the world and purify it.

Then they strewed the grass on the sand, to purify it from taint of earth, and then they began.

That your error may not increase, I will endeavour to purify your soul.'

The legislator must purify them, and if he be not a despot he will find this task to be a difficult one.

In our case, however, we shall only need to purify the streams before they meet.

purify

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for purify

v.

Origin of purify