Word of the Day - 04/10/26
ablution
/æb'luʃən/(n.): the ritual washing of a priest's hands or of sacred vessels
Before consecrating the host, the priest performed the ablution of his hands.
Word Origin
The word 'ablution' originates from Late Middle English, derived from the Latin word 'ablutio', which means 'a washing away'. This in turn comes from the Latin verb 'abluere', meaning 'to wash away'. The word is composed of 'ab-' meaning 'away' and '-luere', from 'lavare' meaning 'to wash'.
Words with similar origins include 'lavatory', derived from Latin 'lavatorium' (place for washing); 'lave', from Latin 'lavare' (to wash); 'dilute', from Latin 'diluere' (wash away, dissolve, from 'dis-' meaning 'apart' and 'luere'); and 'pollute', from Latin 'polluere' (to defile, from 'por-' meaning 'forward, before' and 'luere').