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tr.v. pu·ri·fied, pu·ri·fy·ing, pu·ri·fies 1. To rid of impurities: purify water. 2. To rid of foreign or objectionable elements: tried to purify the party of its dissenters. 3. To free from moral or spiritual defilement: rituals to purify the soul. [Middle English purifien, from Old French purifier, from Latin pūrificāre : pūrus, clean; see PURE + -ficāre, -fy.] pu·rifi·ca·to′ry (py-rĭfĭ-kə-tôr′ē) adj. puri·fi′er n. |
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