exorcise
UK /ˈɛk.sɔː.saɪz/ · US /ˈɛk.sɔɹˌsaɪz/ verb
Forms exorcises exorcising exorcised exorcize
- verb (transitive) To drive out (an evil spirit) from a person, place or thing, especially by an incantation or prayer. “The priest attempted to exorcise the evil spirit from the house.”
- verb (transitive) To rid (a person, place or thing) of an evil spirit. “They hired a specialist to exorcise the haunted object.”
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English exorcisen, exorzisen, from Medieval Latin exorcizō, from Ancient Greek ἐξορκίζω (exorkízō, “to banish an evil spirit; bind by oath”), from ἐξ (ex) + ὅρκος (hórkos). Compare Old French exorciser.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To cast out, as a devil, evil spirits, etc., by conjuration or summoning by a holy name, or by certain ceremonies; to expel (a demon) or to conjure (a demon) to depart out of a person possessed by one. He impudently excorciseth devils in the church. Prynne.
- verb To deliver or purify from the influence of an evil spirit or demon.
Etymology [L. exorcizare, Gr. exorciser.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “exorcise”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details