ablution noun. [ǝ'blu:ʃ(ǝ)n] LME.
[Old & mod. French, or late Latin ablutio(n-), from ablut- pa. ppl stem of abluere, from ab AB- + luere to wash: see -ION.]
1. The act of washing clean:
a. Alchemy & Chemistry. The purification of substances by the use of liquids. LME-M18.
b. sing. & (usu.) in pl. The washing of the body as a religious rite. M16.
c. sing. & (usu.) in pl. Ordinary personal washing. Freq. joc. M18.
d. Christian Church. The ceremonial washing of sacred vessels after, or of the celebrant's fingers before, during, and after, the Eucharist. L19.

2. The water etc. used in ablution. E18.

3. In pl. The building containing washing-places etc. in a camp, ship, etc. M20.

■ ablutionary adjective M19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲