washen

English

Etymology

From Middle English washen, ywashen (washed, past participle of washen (to wash)), from Old English wascen, ġewascen (washed, past participle of wascan (to wash)), equivalent to wash + -en. Cognate with Dutch gewassen (washed, washen), German gewaschen (washed, washen). More at wash.

Verb

washen

  1. (archaic) Alternative past participle of wash.
    • (Can we date this quote?), John Splendid, The Tale of a Poor Gentleman, and the Little Wars of Lorn
      I've had my chance of common life, city and town, and the company of ladies with broidery and camisole and washen faces
    • (Can we date this quote?), The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning
      Are ye made clean and washen from the guilt of your sins?

Adjective

washen (comparative more washen, superlative most washen)

  1. (archaic) clean
    • 1926, Sir Robert Chalmers, “Further dialogues of the Buddha”, in Bibliotheca Indo-Buddhica, volume 1, number 44-45:
      He becomes washen by washing away evil and wrong states.
    • 1975, Neil Miller Gunn, Morning tide:
      Morag put on a third petticoat, of a more washen red than the second, but this one would not fix without its safety-pin.

Antonyms

Anagrams

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