Meaning

noun a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality; ; ; --Joseph Conrad

noun the result of improving something

noun the process of removing impurities (as from oil or metals or sugar etc.)

originEtymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re-der. Old French re-bor. Middle English re- English re- English fine English refine Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-mentom Latin -mentum Old French -mentbor. Middle English -ment English -ment English refinement From refine + -ment.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0