pure
UK: pjʊə | US: pjʊr
adj. free from anything of a different, inferior, or contaminating kind
adj. of unmixed descent or ancestry
adj. absolute; mere (e.g., pure luck)
The word "pure" originates from the Latin purus, meaning "clean, clear, unmixed." It entered Middle English via Old French pur, retaining its core sense of freedom from contamination. The silent "e" in modern spelling is a vestige of Old French influence. The morpheme "pur" directly reflects the Latin root, emphasizing clarity and absence of adulteration—a concept that has remained remarkably stable across languages and centuries.
The water from the mountain spring is remarkably pure.
She has a pure heart, always helping others without expectation.
The scientist needed a pure sample for the experiment.
His motives were pure, driven solely by compassion.
The fabric is made from pure cotton, with no synthetic blends.