ablution

[ uh-bloo-shuh n ]
/ əˈblu ʃən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR ablution ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a cleansing with water or other liquid, especially as a religious ritual.
the liquid thus used.
Usually ablutions. a washing of the hands, body, etc.

Origin of ablution

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin ablūtiōn- (stem of ablūtiō), equivalent to ablūt(us), past participle of abluere (see abluent) + -iōn- -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM ablution

ab·lu·tion·ar·y, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ablution

ablation ablution

Words nearby ablution

ablepsia, abloom, abluent, ablush, abluted, ablution, ably, abm, abm treaty, abmho, abmodality

Example sentences from the Web for ablutionary

British Dictionary definitions for ablutionary

ablution
/ (əˈbluːʃən) /

noun

the ritual washing of a priest's hands or of sacred vessels
(often plural) the act of washing (esp in the phrase perform one's ablutions)
(plural) military informal a washing place

Derived forms of ablution

ablutionary, adjective

Word Origin for ablution

C14: ultimately from Latin ablūere to wash away