exorcize

English

Alternative forms

• exorcise

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɛk.sɔː.saɪz/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɛk.sɔɹˌsaɪz/, /ˈɛk.sɚˌsaɪz/

Verb

exorcize (third-person singular simple present exorcizes, present participle exorcizing, simple past and past participle exorcized)

1. (transitive) To drive out supposed evil spirits from a person, place or thing, especially by an incantation or prayer.
   • 1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:

     "There was a house in the village which had a poltergeist, one of those very mischievous influences which cause so much trouble. I volunteered to exorcize it. We have an official form of exorcism in the Church, you know, so I thought that I was well-armed."

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

Usage notes

Unlike most verbs using the -ise/-ize suffix, exorcise is more commonly spelled with -s- even in American English.

Related terms

• exorcism
• exorcist

Translations

exorcise — see exorcise

Portuguese

Verb

exorcize

1. inflection of exorcizar:
   1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
   2. third-person singular imperative