Definition of Purgatory

1. Noun. A temporary condition of torment or suffering. "A purgatory of drug abuse"

Generic synonyms: Situation
Derivative terms: Purgatorial

2. Noun. (theology) in Roman Catholic theology the place where those who have died in a state of grace undergo limited torment to expiate their sins.
Generic synonyms: Fictitious Place, Imaginary Place, Mythical Place
Category relationships: Divinity, Theology
Derivative terms: Purgatorial

Definition of Purgatory

1. a. Tending to cleanse; cleansing; expiatory.

2. n. A state or place of purification after death; according to the Roman Catholic creed, a place, or a state believed to exist after death, in which the souls of persons are purified by expiating such offenses committed in this life as do not merit eternal damnation, or in which they fully satisfy the justice of God for sins that have been forgiven. After this purgation from the impurities of sin, the souls are believed to be received into heaven.

Definition of Purgatory

1. Noun. (theology) In Catholicism, the stage of the afterlife where souls suffer for their sins before they can enter heaven ¹

2. Noun. any situation causing suffering ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Purgatory

1. [n -RIES]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Purgatory

purflings
purfly
purga
purgament
purgaments
purgation
purgations
purgative
purgatively
purgatives
purgatorial
purgatorian
purgatorians
purgatoric
purgatories
purgatory (current term)
purge
purgeable
purged
purger
purgeries
purgers
purgery
purges
purging
purgings
puri
purification
purifications

Literary usage of Purgatory

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the by Charles George Herbermann, Edward Aloysius Pace, Condé Bénoist Pallen, Thomas Joseph Shahan, John Joseph Wynne (1913)
"It is the traditional faith of Catholics that the souls in purgatory are not separated from the Church, and that the love which is the bond of union between ..."

2. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the by Charles George Herbermann (1913)
"It is the traditional faith of Catholics that the souls in purgatory are not separated from the Church, and that the love which is the bond of union between ..."

3. Cyclopaedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature by John McClintock, James Strong (1883)
"The arguments advanced for purgatory are these: 1. Every sin, how slight soever, though no more than an idle word, as it is an offence to God. deserves ..."

4. Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern by Charles Dudley Warner (1896)
"PATRICK'S purgatory From 'Curious Myths of the Middle Ages' IN THAT charming mediaeval romance 'Fortunatus and his Sons,' which by the way is a treasury of ..."

Other Resources:

Search for Purgatory on Dictionary.com!Search for Purgatory on Thesaurus.com!Search for Purgatory on Google!Search for Purgatory on Wikipedia!