Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Refine
Re-fine′
(r?-f?n′)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Refined
(-find′)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Refining
.] [Pref.
re-
+ fine
to make fine: cf. F. raffiner
.] 1.
To reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; to free from impurities; to free from dross or alloy; to separate from extraneous matter; to purify; to defecate;
as, to
refine
gold or silver; to refine
iron; to refine
wine or sugar.I will bring the third part through the fire, and will
refine
them as silver is refined
. Zech. xiii. 9.
2.
To purify from what is gross, coarse, vulgar, inelegant, low, and the like; to make elegant or exellent; to polish;
as, to
. refine
the manners, the language, the style, the taste, the intellect, or the moral feelingsLove
The thoughts, and heart enlarges.
refines
The thoughts, and heart enlarges.
Milton.
Syn. – To purify; clarify; polish; ennoble.
Re-fine′
,Verb.
I.
1.
To become pure; to be cleared of feculent matter.
So the pure, limpid stream, when foul with stains,
Works itself clear, and, as it runs,
Works itself clear, and, as it runs,
refines
. Addison.
2.
To improve in accuracy, delicacy, or excellence.
Chaucer
refined
on Boccace, and mended his stories. Dryden.
But let a lord once own the happy lines,
How the wit brightens! How the style
How the wit brightens! How the style
refines
! Pope.
3.
To affect nicety or subtilty in thought or language.
“He makes another paragraph about our refining in controversy.” Atterbury.
Webster 1828 Edition
Refine
REFI'NE
, v.t.1.
To purify; in a general sense; applied to liquors, to depurate; to defecate; to clarify; to separate, as liquor, from all extraneous matter. In this sense, the verb is used with propriety, but it is customary to use fine.2.
Applied to metals, to separate the metallic substance from all other matter, whether another metal or alloy, or any earthy substance; in short, to detach the pure metal from all extraneous matter.I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined. Zech. 13.
3.
To purify, as manners, from what is gross, clownish or vulgar; to polish; to make elegant. We expect to see refined manners in courts.4.
To purify, as language, by removing vulgar words and barbarisms.5.
To purify, as taste; to give a nice and delicate perception of beauty and propriety in literature and the arts.6.
To purify, as the mind or moral principles; to give or implant in the mind a nice perception of truth, justice and propriety in commerce and social intercourse. This nice perception of what is right constitutes rectitude of principle, or moral refinement of mind; and a correspondent practice of social duties, constitutes rectitude of conduct or purity of morals. Hence we speak of a refined mind, refined morals, refined principles.To refine the heart or soul, to cleanse it from all carnal or evil affections and desires and implant in it holy or heavenly affections.
REFI'NE
, v.i.1.
To improve in accuracy, delicacy, or in any thing that constitutes excellence.Chaucer refined on Boccace and mended his stories.
Let a lord but own the happy lines, how the wit brightens, how the sense refines!
2.
to become pure; to be cleared of feculent matter.So the pure limpid stream, when foul with stains, works itself clear, and as it runs, refines.
3.
To affect nicety. Men sometimes refine in speculation beyond the limits of practical truth.He makes another paragraph about our refining in controversy.