Learn English – Using purgatory to describe a between state

meaning

I was going to use purgatory to describe the state between childhood and adulthood. However, I looked online and could only find two definitions for the word, one being religious and the other a state of temporary punishment.

I've come to know the word as also meaning a perpetual, undefined state where things are between two defined states. Is there an actual definition of the word meaning this, or am I mistaken?

Best Answer

Perhaps you are thinking of a closely-related word, limbo, which has a sense "Any in-between place, state or condition of neglect or oblivion which results in an unresolved status, delay or deadlock."

Regarding "the state between childhood and adulthood", in which state most teenagers are found, the sense of purgatory that applies is "any situation causing suffering".