Examples Word Origin
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. Show More
verb (used without object), pu·ri·fied, pu·ri·fy·ing. to become pure. Show More
Origin of purify 1250–1300; Middle English purifien <
Middle French purifier <
Latin pūrificāre. See
pure ,
-ify Related forms pu·ri·fi·ca·tion , noun pu·rif·i·ca·to·ry [pyoo -rif -i-kuh -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /pyʊˈrɪf ɪ kəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/ adjective pu·ri·fi·er , noun non·pu·ri·fi·ca·tion , noun non·pu·ri·fy·ing , adjective re·pu·ri·fi·ca·tion , noun re·pu·ri·fy , verb, re·pu·ri·fied, re·pu·ri·fy·ing. self-pu·ri·fy·ing , adjective un·pu·ri·fied , adjective un·pu·ri·fy·ing , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for purify absolve ,
atone ,
wash ,
lustrate ,
fumigate ,
expiate ,
purge ,
decontaminate ,
sanitize ,
exculpate ,
aerate ,
oxygenate ,
clarify ,
redeem ,
shrive ,
cleanse ,
exonerate ,
chasten ,
sublimate ,
deodorize Examples from the Web for purify Contemporary Examples of purify "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 of purify 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.
British Dictionary definitions for 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 Show More
Derived Forms purification , noun purificatory (ˈpjʊərɪfɪˌkeɪtərɪ ), adjective Word Origin for purify 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
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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 .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
