katharos

Katharos, from the Greek word καθαρός, is an adjective meaning "pure" or "clean" and is used in both Ancient and Modern Greek. The term denotes absence of impurity, whether physical, ritual, or moral, and serves as the positive form of the stem καθαρ-.

In classical usage, katharos described cleanliness of the body or objects as well as ritual purity. It carried ethical overtones, signaling freedom from defilement or corruption. In philosophical and religious contexts, the word is part of broader discussions about purity and integrity, often tied to concepts of purification, though the more technical notion of purification is frequently associated with related terms such as katharsis (purification or cleansing of the emotions or soul).

In religious texts from the Hellenistic and Christian periods, καθαρός appears as a general term for purity before God or in spiritual life. Its sense can extend to moral sincerity, untainted conduct, or ceremonial cleanliness, depending on context.

In modern Greek, katharos remains a common word meaning "clean" or "pure." It also forms the basis for various compound terms related to cleanliness, purity, and ethical integrity in everyday language.

The term is historically connected to the name of the Cathars, a medieval religious movement, where the name is broadly linked to the notion of purity and derived through Latin and other languages from the Greek root.

See also: katharsis, καθαρός, purity in religious and ethical contexts.