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impurity

/ɪmˈpjɝɪti/ noun

In Latin: impūritās Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about impurity at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. The condition of being impure; because of contamination, pollution, adulteration or insufficient purification.
    Even animals in the Jewish system cause impurity only when they are dead.
  2. A component or additive that renders something else impure.
    The impurities in the iron ore made extraction of the iron very difficult.
  3. A state of immorality or sin; especially the weakness of the flesh: inchastity.
    With his cheating, lying and stealing, he epitomised the impurity of humanity.

Origin

From impure + -ity. From Middle French impurité, from Latin impuritas.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)