abstergent

[ ab-stur-juh nt ]
/ æbˈstɜr dʒənt /

adjective

noun

a cleansing agent, as a detergent or soap.

Origin of abstergent

1605–15; < Latin abstergent-, stem of abstergēns, present participle of abstergēre to wipe off, equivalent to abs- abs- + tergēre to wipe; see -ent

British Dictionary definitions for abstergent

abstergent
/ (əbˈstɜːdʒənt) /

adjective

cleansing or scouring

Word Origin for abstergent

C17: from Latin abstergent-, abstērgens wiping off, from abs- away, off + tergēre to wipe