Refined \Re*fined"\ (-f?nd"), a.
Freed from impurities or alloy; purifed; polished; cultured;
delicate; as; refined gold; refined language; refined
sentiments.
Refined wits who honored poesy with their pens.
--Peacham.
-- Re*fin"ed*ly (r?*f?n"?d*l?), adv. -- Re*fin"ed*ness,
n.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |
Refine \Re*fine"\ (r?*f?n"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Refined
(-find"); p. pr. & vb. n. Refining.]
[Pref. re- + fine to
make fine: cf. F. raffiner.]
1. To reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; to free from
impurities; to free from dross or alloy; to separate from
extraneous matter; to purify; to defecate; as, to refine
gold or silver; to refine iron; to refine wine or sugar.
I will bring the third part through the fire, and
will refine them as silver is refined. --Zech. xiii.
9.
2. To purify from what is gross, coarse, vulgar, inelegant,
low, and the like; to make elegant or exellent; to polish;
as, to refine the manners, the language, the style, the
taste, the intellect, or the moral feelings.
Love refines The thoughts, and heart enlarges.
--Milton.
Syn: To purify; clarify; polish; ennoble.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |