purify

[ pyoor-uh-fahy ]
See synonyms for purify on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),pu·ri·fied, pu·ri·fy·ing.
  1. to make pure; free from anything that debases, pollutes, adulterates, or contaminates: to purify metals.

  2. to free from foreign, extraneous, or objectionable elements: to purify a language.

  1. to free from guilt or evil.

  2. to clear or purge (usually followed by of or from).

  3. to make clean for ceremonial or ritual use.

verb (used without object),pu·ri·fied, pu·ri·fy·ing.
  1. to become pure.

Origin of purify

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English purifien, from Middle French purifier, from Latin pūrificāre; see pure, -ify

Other words from purify

  • pu·ri·fi·ca·tion [pyoor-uh-fi-key-shuhn], /pyʊər ə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən/, noun
  • pu·rif·i·ca·to·ry [pyoo-rif-i-kuh-tawr-ee], /pyʊˈrɪf ɪ kəˌtɔr i/, adjective
  • pu·ri·fi·er, noun
  • non·pu·ri·fy·ing, adjective
  • 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. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for purify

purify

/ (ˈpjʊərɪˌfaɪ) /


verb-fies, -fying or -fied
  1. to free (something) of extraneous, contaminating, or debasing matter

  2. (tr) to free (a person, etc) from sin or guilt

  1. (tr) to make clean, as in a ritual, esp the churching of women after childbirth

Origin of purify

1
C14: from Old French purifier, from Late Latin pūrificāre to cleanse, from pūrus pure + facere to make

Derived forms of purify

  • purification, noun
  • purificatory (ˈpjʊərɪfɪˌkeɪtərɪ), adjective

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