exorcise

See also exorcisé

English

Alternative forms

• exorcize

Etymology

From Old French exorciser, from Late Latin exorcizare, from Ancient Greek ἐξορκίζειν (exorkizein, “banish an evil spirit; bind by oath”).

Verb

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

1. To drive out an evil spirit from a person, place or thing, especially by an incantation or prayer
2. To rid a person, place or thing of an evil spirit

Derived terms

• exorcism
• exorcist

Translations

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

• Catalan: exorcitzar (ca)
• Dutch: verdrijven (nl), uitbannen (nl)
• Esperanto: ekzorci (eo)
• French: exorciser (fr)
• German: exorzieren (de)
• Ido: exorcisar (io)

• Italian: esorcizzare (it)
• Jèrriais: d'senchorchéler
• Luxembourgish: exorzéieren (lb)
• Russian: изгонять (ru) (izgonjatʹ) (бесов)
• Spanish: exorcizar (es)

Usage notes

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

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French

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɛɡ.zɔʁ.siz/

Verb

exorcise

1. first-person singular present indicative of exorciser
2. third-person singular present indicative of exorciser
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of exorciser
4. first-person singular present subjunctive of exorciser
5. second-person singular imperative of exorciser