Purify

/ˈpjʊrɪfaɪ/ verb

Definition

To remove unwanted substances or impurities from something, making it clean and pure.

Etymology

From Latin 'purificare' combining 'purus' (pure) and 'facere' (to make). Used historically in religious contexts for spiritual cleansing and in practical contexts for removing contaminants.

Kelly Says

Modern water purification uses the same basic principles ancient civilizations discovered—filtering, settling, and chemical treatment—but now we can remove things we can't even see, like viruses, making water safe at scales that would have seemed miraculous centuries ago.

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