# help me find this word... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 11, 2002, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-word/127964 "2002-09-11T13:38:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-word/127964/1 "2002-09-11T13:38:27Z")
Isn’t there a word that means “purified by fire”? I’ve done a bit of Googling haven’t found anything helpful. Although some guy called Stephen Prothero wrote a book by that title about the history of cremation in the US. Sounds slightly interesting. Your help is appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-word/127964/2 "2002-09-11T13:52:16Z")
According to [this site](http://answers-about-god.150m.com/universal.html), the Greek word **katharos** (the origin of \*catharsis. cathartic[/1]) could mean “purified by fire”. Another one [from Sanskrit](http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/ocglos/og-a.htm): > [@](#): > > **Agnishvatta** has the meaning stated above, “delighted” or “pleased” or “sweetened,” i.e., “purified” by fire – which we may render in two ways: either as the fire of suffering and pain in material existence producing great fiber and strength of character, i.e., spirituality; or, perhaps still better from the standpoint of occultism, as signifying an entity or entities who have become one in essence through evolution with the aethery fire of spirit. ---
**Author:** ![Rhapsody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de0a6/32.png) [@Rhapsody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhapsody)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-word/127964/3 "2002-09-11T14:35:28Z")
pyric may be the root you are looking for… ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-word/127964/4 "2002-09-11T14:36:43Z")
Refine? ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-word/127964/5 "2002-09-11T14:48:46Z")
Doesn’t the very word purify come from pur, Greek for fire? Also you might possibly mean distill, though unlikely ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-word/127964/6 "2002-09-11T15:11:49Z")
**KC** beat me to it. [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) lists the root word etymology as “pur” (long u), which also seems to be the source for the prefix _pyro_, having to do with fire. You may be talking about a cermony or rite, of which there seems to be no shortage of hits on Google when paired with “fire”. Merriam-Webster Online lists “baptism of fire”, and the Christian Purgatory is supposed to cleanse the soul by fire (thus we have _purge_). _Refine_ is the word you’re looking for if you’re talking about metallurgy, and _boil_ if talking about purifying water. ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-word/127964/7 "2002-09-11T15:23:06Z")
**bordelond** , I found those references too, and they weren’t what I was looking for. Thanks for the help. **Rhapsody** wins the prize. Thanks, now I can sleep easily. After I get home from work, of course. 😉