abluent

[ ab-loo-uhnt ]

adjective

1. serving to cleanse.

noun

1. a cleansing agent.

Word History and Origins

Origin of abluent¹

1745–55; < Latin abluent- (stem of abluēns, present participle of abluere to wash away), equivalent to ab- ab- + -lū- combining form of lavere to wash + -ent -ent