purgatory English · revision 1167

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpɜːɡət(ə)ɹi/ ''(UK)''; /ˈpɝɡəˌtɔɹi/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''purgatorie'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|fro|purgatoire]]^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and [[der|la-med|purgatorium]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from Late Latin, “a means of cleansing”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) the neuter of ''pūrgātōrius'' “cleansing”, from [[la|purgo|t=to cleanse]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) It is related to [[purge]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A place or condition of temporary punishment after death, in which the souls of the penitent are cleansed before going to heaven (probably before 1200; before 1225 in the OED).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Figuratively the word has meant any place or state of temporary suffering since the late 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) at first especially of unrequited love or of marriage.^(Etymonline) As an adjective it meant cleansing (1377).^(OED 1989)^(AHD) In old New England it was used for a deep, narrow gorge (1766).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – ''purgatoire''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1290 – Saint Patrick's Purgatory, a cave in Lough Derg.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1377 – adjective, cleansing.^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1386 – a place or state of temporary suffering.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1766 – a narrow gorge, in New England.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # In Roman Catholic and some other [[Christian]] belief, a state or place after death in which the souls of those dying in grace are purified of their sins before entering [[heaven]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Any place or condition of temporary suffering, [[expiation]] or remorse.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Tending to cleanse or [[purge]]; [[expiatory]].^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[purge]]

+ * [[purgative]]

+ * [[pure]]

+ * [[inferno]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}