exorcise

• exorcize

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.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɛk.sɔː.saɪz/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɛk.sɔɹˌsaɪz/, /ˈɛk.sɚˌsaɪz/
  • Homophone: exercise (one pronunciation)

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

1. (transitive) To 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.

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

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

   They hired a specialist to exorcise the haunted object.

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

• IPA^(key): /ɛɡ.zɔʁ.siz/

exorcise

1. inflection of exorciser:
   1. first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
   2. second-person singular imperative