To drive out or attempt to drive out an evil spirit from a person or place through religious or spiritual ritual.
From Late Latin 'exorcizare,' from Greek 'exorkizein,' meaning 'to bind by oath' or 'to adjure,' from 'ex-' (out) and 'orkizein' (to make someone swear). Originally meant compelling a spirit to swear an oath to depart, rather than forceful expulsion.
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