3. expurge, expurgate, bowdlerize.
4. exonerate, acquit, exculpate, absolve, vindicate, pardon, excuse, forgive; release, reprieve, free from, free.
5. expiate, destigmatize, remit, grant remission, justify, clear, clear or clean the skirts of, clear [s.o.'s] name; exempt, grant immunity, exempt from, grant amnesty to, Inf let off, quash the charge or indictment; wipe the slate clean, take the charge or record off the books, erase, eradicate.
6. treat, physic, flush out, irrigate, drain; eliminate, evacuate, void, empty or empty out, defecate. -n. 7. purging, cleansing, purgation. See - purgation (def 1).
8. deposal, deposition, removal, displacement, ousting, unseating; overthrow, overthrowal, expulsion, excommunication; riddance, ejection, expulsion, liquidation.
9. elimination, evacuation, voidance, defecation. 10. release, freeing, deliverance, suspension; respite, reprieve, discharge. 11. purgative, cathartic. See - purgative (defs. 1, 2).

purification, n. 1. sanitization, sanitizing, sanitating, depuration, depurating; depollution, depolluting, freshening, deodorizing, decontamination, decontaminating, disinfection, disinfecting, antisepticizing; cleansing, detersion, deterging, mundification, mundi-fying; cleaning, washing, bathing, lavation, lavage, laving, Chiefly Scot. dighting.
2. expurgation, expurgating, purging, defecation, defecating, ridding, Med. absterging; elutriation, elutriating, Both Chem. edulcoration, edulcorating, winnowing, filtering, filtration, filtrating, straining, sifting, sieving, bolting; clarification, clarifying, clearing, refinement, refining, distillation, distilling, All Chem. sublimation, sublimating, rectification, rectifying.
3. absolution, absolving, redemption, redeeming, shriving, lustration, lustrating; exoneration, exonerating, vindication, vindicating, exculpation, exculpating, acquittal, acquitting, amnestying, pardoning, excusing, sublimating, baptism, christening, sanctification, sanctifying, consecration, consecrating, hallowing, blessing, Both Rom. Cath. Ch. beatification, beatifying.

purify, v. 1. sanitize, sanitate, depurate; depol-lute, freshen, deodorize, decontaminate, disinfect, an-tisepticize; cleanse, deterge, mundify, clean, wash, bathe, lave, Chiefly Scot. dight.
2. expurgate, purge, defecate, rid, Med. absterge; elutriate, Chem. edulcorate, winnow, filter, filtrate, strain, sift, sieve, bolt; clarify, clear, refine, rarefy, distill, Chem. sublimate, Chem. rectify.
3. absolve, redeem, shrive, lustrate; exonerate, vindicate, exculpate, acquit, amnesty, pardon, excuse, forgive, wipe the slate clean; sublime, baptize, christen; sanctify, consecrate, hallow, bless, Rom. Cath. Ch. beatify.

purist, n. classicist, Atticist, Hellenist; precisionist, precieux or prdcieuse, blue stocking, Fr. bas bleu, formalizes pedant, stickler, intransigent, dogmatist, positivist, fanatic, Inf diehard, Inf. bitterender,

puritan, n. pietist, zealot, religionist, fanatic; formalist, precisian, dogmatist; moralist, prude, blue-nose, stuffed shirt, pharisee, tartuffe.

puritanical, adj. strict, austere, ascetic; severe, precise, strait-laced, anchoritic, abstinent; hyperorthodox, pietistic, formal, dogmatic, zealous, fanatical, puritan, puritanic; narrow, uncompromising, rigid, arbitrary, hide-bound, stiffnecked, stiff.