1. (v. t.) To make pure or clear from material defilement, admixture, or imperfection; to free from extraneous or noxious matter; as, to purify liquors or metals; to purify the blood; to purify the air.

2. (v. t.) Hence, in figurative uses: (a) To free from guilt or moral defilement; as, to purify the heart.

3. (v. t.) To free from ceremonial or legal defilement.

4. (v. t.) To free from improprieties or barbarisms; as, to purify a language.

5. (v. i.) To grow or become pure or clear.

abate abrade absolve abstract acquit atone bate beatify bleach bless bolt bowdlerize canonize chasten clarify clean clean out clean up cleanse clear clear out consecrate curtail decontaminate decrassify decrease dedicate deduct delouse depreciate depurate derogate deterge detract devote diminish disinfect disparage distill drain dry-clean dust dust off eat away edulcorate elute enshrine erode essentialize exalt exculpate excuse exonerate expiate expurgate extract file away filter filtrate forgive freshen fumigate glorify hallow impair leach lessen lixiviate lustrate narrow oversimplify pardon percolate purge rectify redeem reduce reduce to elements refine reform remit remove restrain retrench rub away saint sanctify sanitize scavenge screen separate set apart shorten shrive sieve sift simplify spiritualize spruce steam-clean strain streamline strip down subduct sublimate sublime subtract sweep out sweeten take away take from thin thin out tidy try wash wear away weed whiten winnow wipe wipe off wipe out wipe up withdraw