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exorcise

ex·or·cise [ ék sawr sz, éksər sz. ] (past and past participle ex·or·cised, present participle ex·or·cis·ing, 3rd person present singular ex·or·cis·es) or ex·or·cize [ ék sawr sz, éksər sz. ] (past and past participle ex·or·cized, present participle ex·or·ciz·ing, 3rd person present singular ex·or·ciz·es)


transitive verb 
Definition:
 
1. free person or place from evil: to use prayers and religious rituals with the intention of ridding a person or place of the supposed presence or influence of evil spirits

2. send evil away: to use prayers and religious rituals with the intention of driving away an evil spirit believed to be possessing a person or place

3. get rid of oppressive feeling: to clear the mind of a painful or oppressive feeling or memory

[15th century. Directly or via French< ecclesiastical Latin exorcizare< Greek exorkizein "swear out (an evil spirit)" < orkos "oath"]

ex·or·cis·er noun
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