SUBLIMATE

I. transitive verb (-mated; -mating) Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin sublimatus, past participle of sublimare Date: 15th century 1. sublime 1, to improve or refine as if by subliming, to divert the expression of (an instinctual desire or impulse) from its unacceptable form to one that is considered more socially or culturally acceptable, sublimation noun II. noun Date: circa 1626 a chemical product obtained by sublimation