1. (v. t.) 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.
2. (v. t.) Hence, in figurative uses: (a) To free from guilt or moral defilement; as, to purify the heart.
3. (v. t.) To free from ceremonial or legal defilement.
4. (v. t.) To free from improprieties or barbarisms; as, to purify a language.
5. (v. i.) To grow or become pure or clear.
Thesaurus Entries
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
