Definition of exorcise

The word "exorcise" originated from the Latin word "exorcismus," which was a term used in the Christian exorcism ritual to drive out evil spirits from possessed individuals. The Latin term "exorcismus" literally translates to "utterance outside," which refers to the fact that the exorcism ceremony was performed outside the church or outside the sacred space. In Christian theology, the first recorded use of the term "exorcismus" can be found in the fifth-century exorcism prayers from the Gelasian Sacramentary, which is a collection of liturgical texts related to sacraments and blessings. The exorcism ritual played a significant role in the early Christian church as Christians believed that demons and evil spirits could possess individuals, causing physical and mental harm. The term "exorcise" came to mean more than just the religious ritual in modern English. It now commonly refers to any action or activity that involves removing or getting rid of something negative, such as exercising a muscle to eliminate weakness or cleansing a house to remove impurities. These extended meanings of the word have evolved over time, but the origin of the term remains rooted in the religious context of driving out evil spirits.