Refine
/rɪˈfaɪn/noun
To improve something by removing impurities or making it more precise.
Did you know?Refine comes through Old French from Latin roots meaning “to finish again,” and its original power was physical purification before it became a metaphor for perfecting ideas, metals, and even the self.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
finire
“to finish, bound, or limit”
Old French
Old French
refiner
“to purify, make fine again”
Middle English
English
refinen
“to purify, make more delicate or exact”
16th Century
English
refine
“to purify or improve by removing impurities”
Modern English
English
refine
“to improve by making small changes or removing impurities”