ab·lu·tion

(ə-blo͞o′shən, ă-blo͞o′-)

1. A washing or cleansing of the body, especially as part of a religious rite.

2. The liquid so used.

[Middle English ablucioun, from Latin ablūtiō, ablūtiōn-, from ablūtus, past participle of abluere, to wash away : ab-, away; see ab-¹ + -luere, to wash; see leu(ə)- in Indo-European roots.]

ab·lu′tion·ar′y (-shə-nĕr′ē) adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ablution

(əˈbluːʃən)

1. (Ecclesiastical Terms) the ritual washing of a priest's hands or of sacred vessels

2. (often plural) the act of washing (esp in the phrase perform one's ablutions)

3. (Military) (plural) military informal a washing place

[C14: ultimately from Latin ablūere to wash away]

abˈlutionary adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ab•lu•tion

(əˈblu ʃən)

n.

1. a cleansing with water or other liquid, esp. as a religious ritual.

2. the liquid used.

3. a washing of the hands, body, etc.

[1350–1400; Middle English < Latin ablūtiō= ablū-, variant s. of abluere + -tiō -tion]

ab•lu′tion•ar′y, adj.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

ablution - the ritual washing of a priest's hands or of sacred vessels

lavation, washing, wash - the work of cleansing (usually with soap and water)

ritual - the prescribed procedure for conducting religious ceremonies

Translations

ablución

peseytyminenpesuvesi

ablution

abluzione

ablução

ablution

[əˈbluːʃən] N

1. (Rel) → ablución f
to perform one's ablutions (hum) → lavarse
to be at one's ablutions (hum) → estar en el lavabo

2. ablutions (Mil) → servicios mpl

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

ablution

→ Waschung f

ablutions

pl (= lavatory) → sanitäre Einrichtungen pl; to perform one’s ablutions (esp hum) → seine Waschungen vornehmen; (= go to lavatory) → seine Notdurft verrichten

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

This freshness of ablution and all the other little cares harmonized charmingly with the blue eyes, the ivory teeth, and the blond person of the old chevalier.

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Darcy may perhaps have HEARD of such a place as Gracechurch Street, but he would hardly think a month's ablution enough to cleanse him from its impurities, were he once to enter it; and depend upon it, Mr.

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The millmen resolved to bestow public honors on Dominicus Pike, only hesitating whether to tar and feather him, ride him on a rail, or refresh him with an ablution at the town pump, on the top of which he had declared himself the bearer of the news.

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He had found his soup too hot, and thrown it at the head of the chief turnkey, who in consequence of this ablution had been put to the inconvenience of having his skin come off as he wiped his face.

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Considerably refreshed by this ablution, both in mind and body, and almost sobered for the time, he dried himself as he best could; then crossed the road, and plied the knocker of the Middle Temple gate.

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In all modes of travelling, the American customs, with reference to the means of personal cleanliness and wholesome ablution, are extremely negligent and filthy; and I strongly incline to the belief that a considerable amount of illness is referable to this cause.

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We caught a glimpse of the handsome tessellated pavements within and of the devotees performing their ablutions at the fountains, but even that we took that glimpse was a thing not relished by the Moorish bystanders.

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The great hatch is scrubbed and placed upon the try-works, completely hiding the pots; every cask is out of sight; all tackles are coiled in unseen nooks; and when by the combined and simultaneous industry of almost the entire ship's company, the whole of this conscientious duty is at last concluded, then the crew themselves proceed to their own ablutions; shift themselves from top to toe; and finally issue to the immaculate deck, fresh and all aglow, as bridegrooms new-leaped from out the daintiest Holland.

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Her bridal adornments, it is true, at first caused some little dismay, having painted and anointed herself for the occasion according to the Chinook toilet; by dint, however, of copious ablutions, she was freed from all adventitious tint and fragrance, and entered into the nuptial state, the cleanest princess that had ever been known, of the somewhat unctuous tribe of the Chinooks.

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At that time in the morning any Christian would have washed his face; but Queequeg, to my amazement, contented himself with restricting his ablutions to his chest, arms, and hands.

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Elephants were bathing in the waters of the sacred river, and groups of Indians, despite the advanced season and chilly air, were performing solemnly their pious ablutions. These were fervent Brahmins, the bitterest foes of Buddhism, their deities being Vishnu, the solar god, Shiva, the divine impersonation of natural forces, and Brahma, the supreme ruler of priests and legislators.

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"Excuse me, I've only just finished my ablutions," he said, smiling, standing before him in his underclothes only.

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