Defn: 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, adv.
— Re*fin"ed*ness, n.
REFINEMENT
Re*fine"ment (r*fn"ment), n. Etym: [Cf. F. raffinement.]
1. The act of refining, or the state of being refined; as, the refinement or metals; refinement of ideas. The more bodies are of kin to spirit in subtilty and refinement, the more diffusive are they. Norris. From the civil war to this time, I doubt whether the corruptions in our language have not equaled its refinements. Swift.
2. That which is refined, elaborated, or polished to excess; an affected subtilty; as, refinements of logic. "The refinements of irregular cunning." Rogers.
Syn. — Purification; polish; politeness; gentility; elegance; cultivation; civilization.
REFINER
Re*fin"er (-fn"r), n.
Defn: One who, or that which, refines.
REFINERY
Re*fin"er*y (-), n.; pl. Refineries (-. Etym: [Cf. F. raffinerie.]
1. The building and apparatus for refining or purifying, esp. metals and sugar.
2. A furnace in which cast iron is refined by the action of a blast on the molten metal.