English → Latin
“refine” in Latin
dēfaecōto cleanse from dregs; to cleanse, purify; to relieveliquōto melt, liquefy; to filter, strain; to clarify, simplifydēliquōto clarify, strain a liquid; to explainexpoliōto smooth, polish; to elaborate, embellishperpoliōto polish thoroughly; to put finishing touches toexcolōto tend or cultivate (figurative); to improve or perfect; to honourvīnumwine; grapes; a grapevinecolōto cultivate the land, till, tend, take care of a field or garden; to inhabit; to frequent, be the guardian of, cherish,
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
refine
PROP., defaecare (e.g., vinum): liquare: eliquare: deliquare (of liquids). to refine sugar, *saccharum coquere.
Figuratively, expolire: perpolire: excolere. Refined habits, etc., politior humanitas: refined life, cultus; vitae cultus: refined luxury, eruditus luxus (Tac., Ann., 16, 18).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for refine?
- The usual Latin words for “refine” are dēfaecō, liquō, dēliquō; also expoliō, perpoliō, excolō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.