Purify

• POS: Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: pu=ri=fy

CIDE DICTIONARY

Purify, v. t. [F. purifier, L. purificare; purus pure + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Pure, and -fy.].

•  To make pure or clear from material defilement, admixture, or imperfection; to free from extraneous or noxious matter; as, to purify liquors or metals; to purify the blood; to purify the air.  [1913 Webster]
•  Hence, in figurative uses: (a) To free from guilt or moral defilement; as, to purify the heart.  [1913 Webster]

  "And fit them so
  Purified to receive him pure."  [1913 Webster]

  "And Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, . . . and purified the altar."  [1913 Webster]

  "Purify both yourselves and your captives."  [1913 Webster]

Purify, v. i. 

 To grow or become pure or clear.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Purify, v.tr. (-ies, -ied)
1 (often foll. by of, from) cleanse or make pure.
2 make ceremonially clean.
3 clear of extraneous elements.

Derivative

purification n. purificatory adj. purifier n.

Etymology

ME f. OF purifier f. L purificare (as PURE)

THESAURUS

Purify

abate, abrade, absolve, abstract, acquit, atone, bate, beatify, bleach, bless, bolt, bowdlerize, canonize, chasten, clarify, clean, clean out, clean up, cleanse, clear, clear out, consecrate, curtail, decontaminate, decrassify, decrease, dedicate, deduct, delouse, depreciate, depurate, derogate, deterge, detract, devote, diminish, disinfect, disparage, distill, drain, dry-clean, dust, dust off, eat away, edulcorate, elute, enshrine, erode, essentialize, exalt, exculpate, excuse, exonerate, expiate, expurgate, extract, file away, filter, filtrate, forgive, freshen, fumigate, glorify, hallow, impair, leach, lessen, lixiviate, lustrate, narrow, oversimplify, pardon, percolate, purge, rectify, redeem, reduce, reduce to elements, refine, reform, remit, remove, restrain, retrench, rub away, saint, sanctify, sanitize, scavenge, screen, separate, set apart, shorten, shrive, sieve, sift, simplify, spiritualize, spruce, steam-clean, strain, streamline, strip down, subduct, sublimate, sublime, subtract, sweep out, sweeten, take away, take from, thin, thin out, tidy, try, wash, wear away, weed, whiten, winnow, wipe, wipe off, wipe out, wipe up, withdraw

ROGET THESAURUS

Purify

Cleanness

VB be clean, render clean, clean, cleanse, mundify, rinse, wring, flush, full, wipe, mop, sponge, scour, swab, scrub, brush up, wash, lave, launder, buck, absterge, deterge, decrassify, clear, purify, depurate, despumate, defecate, purge, expurgate, elutriate, lixiviate, edulcorate, clarify, refine, rack, filter, filtrate, drain, strain, disinfect, fumigate, ventilate, deodorize, whitewash, castrate, emasculate, sift, winnow, pick, weed, comb, rake, brush, sweep, rout out, clear out, sweep out, make a clean sweep of.

Improvement

VB improve, be better, become better, get better, mend, amend, advance, ascend, increase, fructify, ripen, mature, pick up, come about, rally, take a favorable turn, turn over a new leaf, turn the corner, raise one's head, sow one's wild oats, recover, be better, be improved by, turn to right account, turn to good account, turn to best account, profit by, reap the benefit of, make good use of, make capital out of, place to good account, render better, improve, mend, amend, better, ameliorate, meliorate, correct, decrassify, improve upon, refine upon, rectify, enrich, mellow, elaborate, fatten, promote, cultivate, advance, forward, enhance, bring forward, bring on, foster, invigorate, touch up, rub up, brush up, furbish up, bolster up, vamp up, brighten up, warm up, polish, cook, make the most of, set off to advantage, prune, repair, put in order, review, revise, make corrections, make improvements, doctor, purify, relieve, refresh, infuse new blood into, recruit, reform, remodel, reorganize, new model, view in a new light, think better of, appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober, palliate, mitigate, lessen an evil.

Simpleness

VB render simple, simplify, sift, winnow, bolt, eliminate, exclude, get rid of, clear, purify, disentangle.