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Webster 1913 Edition
Exorcise
Ex′or-cise
(ĕks′ŏr-sīz)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Exorcised
(-sīzd)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Exorcising
(-sīˊzĭng)
.] [L.
exorcizare
, Gr. ἐξορκίζειν
; ἐξ
out + ὁρκίζειν
to make one swear, bind by an oath, fr. ὅρκοσ
oath: cf. F. exorciser
.] 1.
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.
2.
To deliver or purify from the influence of an evil spirit or demon.
Exorcise
the beds and cross the walls. Dryden.
Mr. Spectator . . . do all you can to
exorcise
crowds who are . . . processed as I am. Spectator.
Webster 1828 Edition
Exorcise
EX'ORCISE
,Verb.
I.
1.
To adjure by some holy name; but chiefly, to expel evil spirits by conjurations, prayers and ceremonies. To exorcise a person, is to expel from him the evil spirit supposed to possess him. To exorcise a demon or evil spirit, is to cast him out or drive him from a person, by prayers or other ceremonies.2.
To purify from unclean spirits by adjurations and ceremonies; to deliver from the influence of malignant spirits or demons; as, to exorcise a bed or a house.Definition 2024
exorcise
exorcise
See also: exorcisé
English
Alternative forms
Verb
exorcise (third-person singular simple present exorcises, present participle exorcising, simple past and past participle exorcised)
- (transitive) To drive out an evil spirit from a person, place or thing, especially by an incantation or prayer
- (transitive) To rid a person, place or thing of an evil spirit
Derived terms
Translations
To drive out an evil spirit from a person, place or thing, especially by an incantation or prayer
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Usage notes
Unlike most verbs using the -ise/-ize suffix, exorcise is more commonly spelled with -s- even in American English.
French
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɛɡ.zɔʁ.siz/
Verb
exorcise