ablution

From Middle English, ablucioun (“cleansing of impurities”), from Old French ablution, and its source, Late Latin ablūtiō (“a washing away”), from abluō (“wash away”), from ab (“away”) + lavō (“wash”)[1].

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /əˈbluː.ʃn̩/
• (US) IPA^(key): /əˈblu.ʃn̩/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uːʃən

ablution (countable and uncountable, plural ablutions)

1. The act of washing something.
   1. (chemistry) Originally, the purifying of oils and other substances by emulsification with hot water; now more generally, a thorough cleansing of a precipitate or other non-dissolved substance. [First attested from around 1350 to 1470.][2]
   2. The act of washing or cleansing the body, or some part of it, as a religious rite. [From mid 16^th century.][2]
      • 1786, William Beckford, Vathek; an Arabian Tale:

        Let water be brought to perform my ablutions, and let the pious Fakreddin be called to offer up his prayers with mine.

   3. (literary or humorous, usually in the plural) Washing oneself; bathing, cleaning oneself up. [From mid 18^th century.][2]
      • 1835, William Gilmore Simms, The Partisan, Harper, Chapter II, page 25:

        He followed the steps of Bella, who soon conducted him to his chamber, and left him to those ablutions which a long ride along a sandy road had rendered particularly necessary.

   4. (Western Christianity) The rinsing of the priest's hand and the sacred vessel following the Communion with, depending on rite, water or a mix of it and wine, which may then be drunk by the priest. [from 17th c.]
2. The liquid used in the cleansing or ablution. [From early 18^th century.][2]
   • (Can we date this quote?), Alexander Pope, (Please provide the book title or journal name):

     Cast the ablutions in the main.

3. (Eastern Orthodoxy) The ritual consumption by the deacon or priest of leftover sacred wine of host after the Communion.
4. (plural only, Britain, military) The location or building where the showers and basins are located. [From mid 20^th century.][2]

• ablution in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

• abutilon, albutoin

• Audio

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ablution f (plural ablutions)

1. (Western Christianity) Ritual rinsing of the priest's hand; ablution.
2. (rare) A washing, especially ritual.

• The various other meanings of the word are usually only used in the plural.

• ablutions

• “ablution” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

• oubliant