purgatory
purgatory
Definition
pur·ga·tory (pʉr′gə tôr′ē)
noun pl. -·ries
- Theol. a state or place in which, in Rom. Catholicism and other Christian doctrine, those who have died in the grace of God expiate their sins by suffering
- any state or place of temporary punishment, expiation, or remorse
Etymology: ME purgatorie < OFr & ML(Ec): OFr purgatoire < ML(Ec) purgatorium < LL purgatorius, cleansing < L purgare: see purge
purgatory
Synonyms
purgatory
n.
purgatory
Usage Examples
Preposition: of
- suicide: When in prison Cooper wrote some tales and The Purgatory of Suicides, a political epic in ten books, written in Spenserian stanzas.
Converse of object
- become: However, without the police anarchy would reign and the lives of the defenseless would become purgatory.
- avoid: Saint Molaise lived on Holy Island and died there in 639 after accepting 30 diseases at once to avoid purgatory.
- accept: We had accepted this purgatory as a child accepts the conditions of the world.
Adjective modifier
- sheer: Two and a half hours of sheer purgatory ( and about as hot ).
- meteorological: The weather is raw and boisterous in winter, shifty and ungenial in summer, and a downright meteorological purgatory in the spring.
- absolute: The last few miles were absolute purgatory despite the enthusiasm of the crowds on the Embankment.
- social: Andy died, Liza got fat, and the rest of us were condemned to a shabby and joyless social purgatory.
Modifies a noun
- prayer: PURGATORY PRAYER FOR THE DEAD The consolations of purgatory.
Noun used with modifier
purgatory Quotes
England istheparadise of women, thepurgatoryof men, and the hell of horses.
There is no other purgatory but a woman.
: What do you think of marriage? : I take't, as those that deny purgatory, It locally contains or heaven, or hell; There's no third place in't.
Browse dictionary entries near purgatory
- purgatorial
- purgative
- purgation
- purfle
- purely
- purebred
- pure plea
- pure play
- pure mesh
- pure line
- purge
- purge(ing) contempt
- puri
- purification
- purificator
- purify
- Purim
- purine
- purism
- purist
