purify
UK[ˈpjʊərɪfaɪ]US[ˈpjʊrɪfaɪ]
v
to make something clean by removing dirty, harmful, or foreign substances
v
to make someone pure or free from guilt or evil, especially in a religious or moral sense
Morpheme Breakdown
pur
ify
pur
pure
ify
to make
Etymology
the word 'purify' is a direct inheritance from late latin 'purificare', which was itself formed from the classical latin adjective 'purus' (meaning clean, unmixed, free from defilement) and the verb-forming suffix '-ficare' (from 'facere', to make). the literal construction "to make pure" has remained remarkably consistent in meaning from its latin origins to modern english. while 'purus' is of uncertain deeper origin, it may be related to the proto-indo-european root peu- meaning "to cleanse, to purify." the word entered english via old french 'purifier' in the late middle english period, solidifying its abstract applications in both physical cleansing and spiritual or moral refinement.
Analysis
Structure: pur (pure) + ify (to make)
pur (from latin 'purus', meaning clean, pure; functions as the core semantic root). ify (from latin '-ificare', a verb-forming suffix meaning 'to make, to cause to become'; functions as a derivational suffix).
Examples
the water is filtered to purify it for drinking.
some rituals are performed to purify the soul.
the process helps to purify the air of pollutants.