Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Purgatory

Pur′ga-to-ry

,
Adj.
[L.
purgatorius
.]
Tending to cleanse; cleansing; expiatory.
Burke.

Pur′ga-to-ry

,
Noun.
[Cf. F.
purgatoire
.]
A state or place of purification after death; according to the Roman Catholic creed, a place, or a state believed to exist after death, in which the souls of persons are purified by expiating such offenses committed in this life as do not merit eternal damnation, or in which they fully satisfy the justice of God for sins that have been forgiven. After this purgation from the impurities of sin, the souls are believed to be received into heaven.

Webster 1828 Edition


Purgatory

PURG'ATORY

,
Adj.
[L. purgatorius, from purgo, to purge.]
Tending to cleanse; cleansing; expiatory.

PURG'ATORY

,
Noun.
Among catholics, a supposed place or state after death, in which the souls of persons are purified, or in which they expiate such offenses committed in this life, as do not merit eternal damnation. After this purgation from the impurities of sin, the souls are supposed to be received into heaven.

Definition 2024


Purgatory

Purgatory

See also: purgatory

English

Alternative forms

Proper noun

Purgatory

  1. (Christianity) The supposed extra-biblical location of a Christian's soul's purging of sin prior to admission to Heaven.

Synonyms

  • See Wikisaurus:afterlife

Derived terms

Coordinate terms

Translations

purgatory

purgatory

See also: Purgatory

English

Noun

purgatory (countable and uncountable, plural purgatories)

  1. (Christianity) Alternative form of Purgatory: the supposed extra-biblical location where a Christian's soul is purged of sin prior to admission to Heaven.
  2. Any situation where suffering is endured, particularly as part of a process of redemption.

Translations

See also

Adjective

purgatory (comparative more purgatory, superlative most purgatory)

  1. Tending to cleanse; expiatory.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Burke to this entry?)