purgatory

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“
It's purgatory, my dear, that's what it is--purgatory--and I haven't done anything to deserve it But you want to learn; you don't want to be always ignorant Bedad, then, darling, I don't want to learn at all.

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Definitions (13)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. noun Roman Catholic Church A state in which the souls of those who have died in grace must expiate their sins.
  2. noun A place or condition of suffering, expiation, or remorse: a purgatory of drug abuse.
  3. adjective Tending to cleanse or purge.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (6)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (2)

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Examples (50)

  • I haven't watched the first season and the purgatory is full enough as it is. —  Anime Nano!
  • I thought of how the priest had said that my brothers suffering may have eliminated his need to visit "purgatory," a concept in Catholicism. —  Beyond Meds
  • In my pained delirium, both emotional at the loss of my brother and physical as I suffered my endometriosis this idea of purgatory washed over me. —  Beyond Meds
  • Many places in Forest City's 85-acre radius were left in business purgatory, awaiting news on whether they'd fit in Forest City's plans ... or not. —  Home
  • It's February and that means it's the start of football purgatory -- signing day has come and gone and we're still a month away from the start of spring practice and two away from the ol 'Blue-White Game. —  Times Leader News
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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English purgatorie, from Old French purgatoire, from Medieval Latin pūrgātōrium, from Late Latin, means of purgation, from neuter of pūrgātōrius, cleansing, from Latin pūrgāre, to cleanse; see purge.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from Middle English purgatorye, purcatorye, purcatorie, n., = French purgatoire = Provencal purgatori, porguatori = Spanish Portuguese Italian purgatorio, from Late Latin purgatorius, cleansing, purgative (Middle Latin purgatorium, neuter, a place of purgation, purgatory, also a wash-house, laundry), from Latin purgare, past participle purgatus, cleanse: see purge.
 

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/ˈpərgətəri/
by Lee Davis-Thalbourne
by Lee Davis-Thalbourne
by American Heritage

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