Clarify, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clarified; p. pr. & vb. n. Clarifying.] — Webster enters it under “clarify”
Etymology: [F. clarifier, from L. clarificare; clarus clear + facere to make. See Clear, and Fact.]
1. To make clear or bright by freeing from feculent matter; to defecate; to fine; -- said of liquids, as wine or sirup. "Boiled and clarified." Ure.
2. To make clear; to free from obscurities; to brighten or illuminate. To clarify his reason, and to rectify his will. South.
3. To glorify. [Obs.] Fadir, clarifie thi name. Wyclif (John ii. 28).
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Clarify, v. i.
1. To grow or become clear or transparent; to become free from feculent impurities, as wine or other liquid under clarification.
2. To grow clear or bright; to clear up. Whosoever hath his mind fraught with many thoughts, his wits and understanding do clarify and break up in the discoursing with another. Bacon.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for clarified; he lists it under fine.
Where he writes about it:
That which is truly finished, brought to an ideal end, is excellent of its kind, and beautiful, if a thing that admits of beauty; as, a fine house, fine trees, a fine woman, a fine morning; if a thing that admits of the removal of impurities, it is not finished till these are removed, and hence fine signifies clarified, clear, pure, refined; as, fine gold. — from fine