释义
n.
(in Catholic doctrine) a place or state of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are expiating their sins before going to heaven
（天主教教义）炼狱。
[mass noun]mental anguish or suffering
（精神上的）痛苦（或苦楚）
-
this was purgatory, worse than anything she'd faced in her life. 这是她有生以来遭遇的最糟糕的精神折磨。
adj.
〈古〉 清洗的；清除的；净化的
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infernal punishments are purgatory and medicinal. 地狱的惩罚既有涤罪又有药到病除的作用。
词源
"Middle English： from Anglo-Norman French