exorcise

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UK/ˈɛk.sɔː.saɪz/US/ˈɛk.sɔɹˌsaɪz/US/ˈɛk.sɚˌsaɪz/

verb

To drive out (an evil spirit) from a person, place or thing, especially by an incantation or prayer.

“They hired a specialist to exorcise the haunted object.”

Similar
exorcize
OriginMiddle English exorcisen ← Medieval Latin exorcizō ← Ancient Greek ἐξορκίζω →
UncommonScrabble 17
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Meanings

verbexorcise (third-person singular simple present exorcises, present participle exorcising, simple past and past participle exorcised)

present singular third person exorcises · participle present exorcising · participle past exorcised · past exorcised · alternative exorcize

  1. transitiveTo 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.

    1 more example

    The ritual was performed to exorcise the demons from the village.

  2. transitiveTo rid (a person, place or thing) of an evil spirit.

    They hired a specialist to exorcise the haunted object.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbexpel through adjuration or prayers

Similar
exorcize
Broader
ejectchuck outexclude

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἐξορκίζω“to banish an evil spirit; bind by oath”
  2. Medieval Latinexorcizō
  3. Middle Englishexorcisen
  4. Englishexorcise

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.

More words from Middle English, Medieval Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek ἐξορκίζω
  • ἐξορκίζω (exorkízō)to drive out an evil spirit
Arabic طَرَدَ
  • طَرَدَ (ṭarada)to drive out an evil spirit
Catalan exorcitzar
  • exorcitzarto drive out an evil spirit
Dutch verdrijven, uitbannen
  • verdrijvento drive out an evil spirit
  • uitbannento drive out an evil spirit
Esperanto ekzorci
  • ekzorcito drive out an evil spirit
Finnish manata, manata
  • manatato drive out an evil spirit
  • manatato rid of an evil spirit
French exorciser
  • exorciserto drive out an evil spirit
German exorzieren, austreiben
  • exorzierento drive out an evil spirit
  • austreibento drive out an evil spirit
Greek εξορκίζω
  • εξορκίζω (exorkízo)to drive out an evil spirit
Italian esorcizzare
  • esorcizzareto drive out an evil spirit
Latin adiuro
  • adiuroto drive out an evil spirit
Māori peiwairua
  • peiwairuato drive out an evil spirit
Portuguese exorcizar
  • exorcizarto drive out an evil spirit
Romanian exorciza
  • exorcizato drive out an evil spirit
Russian изгонять
  • изгонять (izgonjatʹ)to drive out an evil spirit
Spanish exorcizar, exorcizar
  • exorcizarto drive out an evil spirit
  • exorcizarto rid of an evil spirit
Tamil பேயோட்டு
  • பேயோட்டு (pēyōṭṭu)to drive out an evil spirit
Ukrainian виганя́ти, ви́гнати
  • виганя́ти (vyhanjáty)to drive out an evil spirit
  • ви́гнати (výhnaty)to drive out an evil spirit
Yiddish באַשווערן, משביע זײַן
  • באַשווערן (bashvern)to drive out an evil spirit
  • משביע זײַן (mashbiye zayn)to drive out an evil spirit
  • אַרויסטרײַבן (aroystraybn)to drive out an evil spirit

Rhymes & wordplay

Sounds the same

exercise (one pronunciation)
Cite this entry
APA

exorcise. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/exorcise

MLA

“exorcise.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/exorcise. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “exorcise,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/exorcise.

Source: exorcise on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.