purify

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈpjʊɹɪfaɪ/ UK /ˈpjʊəɹɪfaɪ/ See IPA manual

Freq #20382

Meanings

1

verb
To make something clean by removing dirt or harmful substances.

This device purifies the water so it is safe to drink.
2

verb
To make someone or something free of sin or guilt.

The ritual is meant to purify the soul.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 verb · to make someone or... purge

More luster lustrate

Opposites

defile

Word family

Forms purifiedpurifiespurifying

Derived forms copurifyimmunopurifypurifiablepurifyinglyrepurifyunpurifying

Related forms puritan

Etymology

From Middle English purifien, purifyen, from Old French purifier, purifiier, from Latin pūrificō, pūrificāre, from pūrus (“pure; clean”).

*pewH- Proto-Indo-European purifien Middle English purifier Old French pūrificō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# purify

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈpjʊɹɪfaɪ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpjʊəɹɪfaɪ/
**Frequency rank:** 20382

## Meanings
1. To make something clean by removing dirt or harmful substances.
2. To make someone or something free of sin or guilt.

## Examples
- This device purifies the water so it is safe to drink.
- The ritual is meant to purify the soul.

## Synonyms
- luster
- lustrate

## Antonyms
- defile

## Derived Forms
- copurify
- immunopurify
- purifiable
- purifyingly
- repurify
- unpurifying

## Related Forms
- puritan

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *pewH-
- Root: purifien
- Root: purifier
- Root: pūrificō
- Affix: -ify - to make

## Etymology
From Middle English purifien, purifyen, from Old French purifier, purifiier, from Latin pūrificō, pūrificāre, from pūrus (“pure; clean”).

## AI Etymology
Purify comes from Middle English purifien, purifyen, from Old French purifier, purifiier, from Latin pūrificō, pūrificāre, from pūrus (“pure; clean”). The historical chain includes *pewH- (Proto-Indo-European), purifien (Middle English), purifier (Old French), pūrificō (Latin). In present-day English it covers to make something clean by removing dirt or harmful substances and to make someone or something free of sin or guilt. The wider family includes derived forms such as copurify, immunopurify, purifiable, purifyingly, repurify and related forms such as puritan.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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