1. a temporary condition of torment or suffering;

   "a purgatory of drug abuse"
   

2. (theology) in Roman Catholic theology the place where those who have died in a state of grace undergo limited torment to expiate their sins

1.（天主教中的）炼狱
purgatory is the place where Roman Catholics believe the spirits of dead people are sent to suffer for their sins before they go to heaven.

purgatory

e.g. Prayers were said for souls inpurgatory.
祷告词是为炼狱中的灵魂念的。

2.受苦的经历；折磨；苦难
You can describe a very unpleasant experience aspurgatory .

purgatory的近义词

e.g. Every step of the last three miles waspurgatory.
最后3英里时每一步都像是受罪。
e.g. ...five years of economicpurgatory.
5年的经济困难

1. purgatory

1. 涤罪：宝血自耶稣身上分离出来时,常常是以血滴的方式表现,信徒在冥想之中热切向往血滴,狂热地计算血滴数量,象徵他们主动、积极地追求涤罪(purgatory),并且将血滴视为救赎的计价单位.

2. (炼狱和天堂)：a tale of two cities(双城记) | THE VISION OR, HELL,purgatory, AND PARADISE(炼狱和天堂) | THE DIVINE COMEDY(神曲)

3. 炼狱,涤罪所：heaven 天 |purgatory 炼狱,涤罪所 | hell 地狱