exorcise
verbUK /ˈɛk.sɔː.saɪz/ · US /ˈɛk.sɔɹˌsaɪz/
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.
1
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.
- The ritual was performed to exorcise the demons from the village.
2
To rid (a person, place or thing) of an evil spirit.
- They hired a specialist to exorcise the haunted object.
- Derived terms
- exorcisable, exorcisement, exorcism, exorcist