PURG'ATORY, adjective [Latin purgatorius, from purgo, to purge.] Tending to cleanse; cleansing; expiatory. PURG'ATORY, noun Among catholics, a supposed place or state after death, in which the souls of persons are purified, or in which they expiate such offenses committed in this life, as do not merit eternal damnation. After this purgation from the impurities of sin, the souls are supposed to be received into heaven.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI