What does exorcized mean?
Exorcized is the past tense and past participle of the verb 'to exorcize,' meaning to drive out an evil spirit or demon from a person, place, or object, typically through a formal religious rite performed by an authorized figure such as a priest. In modern usage the word also carries a well-established figurative sense: to be exorcized can mean to be freed from a haunting memory, fear, guilt, or other psychological burden, as though the burden were a demonic presence. The term derives from the Greek 'exorkizein,' meaning to adjure or bind by oath, and entered English via Latin ecclesiastical usage. Its connotations are dramatic and solemn in literal contexts, while figurative uses often appear in literary, therapeutic, or reflective writing about confronting the past. The spelling 'exorcized' is standard in American English, with British usage favoring 'exorcised.'
verb (past tense and past participle of exorcize)Drove out or expelled (an evil spirit or demon) from a person, place, or thing, especially through an exorcism ritual; more broadly, rid something of a troubling influence, memory, or emotion as if expelling a demon.
- (of a priest or ritual) to expel an evil spirit from a person, place, or object.
- (figurative) to rid oneself of a painful memory, fear, or emotional burden as if it were a demon.
"The priest exorcized the supposedly haunted farmhouse in a ceremony that lasted several hours."
"Villagers believed only a priest could have exorcized the spirit haunting the old mill."
"Writing her memoir finally exorcized the guilt she had carried for decades."
The word 'exorcize' traveled from Greek through Latin and Bible translators before Hollywood made it famous — but for centuries it simply meant driving out demons, no special effects required.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of exorcized
The word traces to the Greek 'exorkizein,' meaning to administer an oath or adjure, formed from 'ex-' (out) plus 'horkos' (oath). It passed into Late Latin as 'exorcizare' and was adopted into Old French before entering English in the early modern period, where it appeared in biblical and religious texts concerning the casting out of demons. Cognates include the noun 'exorcism' and the agent noun 'exorcist.'
Related word forms
How exorcized is actually used
Standard past tense of both 'exorcize' (US-preferred spelling) and 'exorcised' (British variant). The figurative sense is common in literary and journalistic prose; the literal sense is now largely confined to religious contexts.
Easily confused with exorcized
'Exercised' means performed physical activity or put into use, while 'exorcized' means drove out evil spirits or unwanted influences — the words differ by only one letter.