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purgatory
7 dictionary results for: Purgatory
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
pur·ga·to·ry 
[pur-guh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] Pronunciation Key noun, plural -ries, adjective
[pur-guh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] Pronunciation Key noun, plural -ries, adjective –noun
–adjective
| 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. | (initial capital letter, italics) Italian, Pur·ga·to·rio
[poor-gah-taw-ryaw] Pronunciation Key. the second part of Dante's Divine Comedy, in which the repentant sinners are depicted. Compare inferno (def. 3), paradise (def. 7). |
| 3. | any condition or place of temporary punishment, suffering, expiation, or the like. |
| 4. | serving to cleanse, purify, or expiate. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| pur·ga·to·ry
(pûr'gə-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. pur·ga·to·ries
adj. Tending to cleanse or purge. [Middle English purgatorie, from Old French purgatoire, from Medieval Latin pūrgātōrium, from Late Latin, means of purgation, from neuter of pūrgātōrius, cleansing, from Latin pūrgāre, to cleanse; see purge.] |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
purgatory
purgatory
c.1225, from M.L. purgatorium (St. Bernard, c.1130), from L.L., "means of cleansing," prop. neut. of purgatorius (adj.) "purging, cleansing," from L. purgare (see purge).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| purgatory | |
noun | |
| 1. | a temporary condition of torment or suffering; "a purgatory of drug abuse" |
| 2. | (theology) in Roman Catholic theology the place where those who have died in a state of grace undergo limited torment to expiate their sins |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
purgatory
purgatory
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; 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.
Note: A “purgatory” is, by extension, any place of suffering, usually for past misdeeds.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Purgatory
Pur"ga*to*ry\, a. [L. purgatorius.] Tending to cleanse; cleansing; expiatory. --Burke.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Purgatory
Pur"ga*to*ry\, n. [Cf. F. purgatoire.] A state or place of purification after death; according to the Roman Catholic creed, a place, or a state believed to exist after death, in which the souls of persons are purified by expiating such offenses committed in this life as do not merit eternal damnation, or in which they fully satisfy the justice of God for sins that have been forgiven. After this purgation from the impurities of sin, the souls are believed to be received into heaven.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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