Purgatory is a place or state of being where people exist temporarily to admit their sins or receive punishment.
(noun)An example of purgatory is the place between heaven and hell where a soul's ultimate fate is decided.
See purgatory in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun pl. purgatories
Origin: ME purgatorie < OFr & ML(Ec): OFr purgatoire < ML(Ec) purgatorium < LL purgatorius, cleansing < L purgare: see purge
See purgatory in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun pl. pur·ga·to·ries
Origin:
Origin: Middle English purgatorie
Origin: , from Old French purgatoire
Origin: , from Medieval Latin pūrgātōrium
Origin: , from Late Latin, means of purgation
Origin: , from neuter of pūrgātōrius, cleansing
Origin: , from Latin pūrgāre, to cleanse; see purge
.Learn more about purgatory