purgatory; place of suffering and purification
Meanings
2 senses · 7 examplesnoun
purgatory (in Catholic theology)
Specifically refers to the Catholic doctrine where souls undergo temporary purification to atone for venial sins before entering heaven.
Catholicism believes that purgatory is a necessary stage for the purification of souls.
According to doctrine, if one dies with venial sins unatoned, they will enter purgatory.
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Souls in purgatory are purified through suffering and eventually ascend to heaven.
noun
figurative: a place or period of severe trial, suffering, or tempering; crucible
neutralUsed metaphorically to describe an intensely difficult environment or experience that refines or tests a person's character, will, or abilities.
For athletes, the intensive training period is like being in purgatory.
That period of hardship was simply purgatory for them.
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Only by going through purgatory-like tempering can one achieve success.
The initial startup phase is a purgatory for every entrepreneur.