spiritualize

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈspɪr.ɪ.tʃu.əˌlaɪz/ UK /ˈspɪr.ɪ.tjʊ.əˌlaɪz/ See IPA manual

Freq #439665

Meanings

1

verb
to make a person, experience, or activity more spiritual, elevated, or concerned with the soul

The music seemed to spiritualize the audience and lift them beyond ordinary concerns.
2

verb
to give something a spiritual or allegorical meaning rather than a literal one

Later commentators spiritualized the poem as an account of the soul's journey.
3

verb
to purify from material, worldly, or corrupting influences

The reformer hoped to spiritualize public life through service and self-discipline.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to make a person,... elevate ennoble sublimate

2 verb · to give something a... allegorizeinterpret spiritually

3 verb · to purify from material,... purify refine

Opposites

materialize debase corrupt

Word family

Forms spiritualizesspiritualizing

Derived forms spiritualizedspiritualizesspiritualizingspiritualizationspiritualizer

Related forms spiritual spiritualitysublimationtransfiguration

Etymology

Formed in the seventeenth century from spiritual + -ize. The causative sense is literally 'make spiritual'; from it developed uses for moral purification, imaginative elevation, and interpreting a material image or text as a spiritual allegory.

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# spiritualize

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈspɪr.ɪ.tʃu.əˌlaɪz/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈspɪr.ɪ.tjʊ.əˌlaɪz/
**Frequency rank:** 439665

## Meanings
1. to make a person, experience, or activity more spiritual, elevated, or concerned with the soul
2. to give something a spiritual or allegorical meaning rather than a literal one
3. to purify from material, worldly, or corrupting influences

## Examples
- The music seemed to spiritualize the audience and lift them beyond ordinary concerns.
- Later commentators spiritualized the poem as an account of the soul's journey.
- The reformer hoped to spiritualize public life through service and self-discipline.

## Synonyms
- elevate
- ennoble
- sublimate
- allegorize
- purify

## Antonyms
- materialize
- debase
- corrupt

## Derived Forms
- spiritualized
- spiritualizes
- spiritualizing
- spiritualization
- spiritualizer

## Related Forms
- spiritual
- spirituality
- sublimation
- transfiguration

## Etymology
Formed in the seventeenth century from spiritual + -ize. The causative sense is literally 'make spiritual'; from it developed uses for moral purification, imaginative elevation, and interpreting a material image or text as a spiritual allegory.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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