Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1100-1200
Language: Anglo-French
Origin: purgatorie, from Latin purgatus, past participle of purgare; PURGE1

purgatory

 noun
     
pur‧ga‧tory
1 [uncountable] something that makes you suffer - used humorously:
Sewing is relaxation for some, purgatory for others.
2

Purgatory

RRC in Roman Catholic belief, a place where the souls of dead people suffer until they are pure enough to enter heaven
—purgatorial adjective
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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