cleanse
[ klenz ]
/ klɛnz /
verb (used with object), cleansed, cleans·ing.
to make clean.
to remove by or as if by cleaning: to cleanse sin from the soul.
verb (used without object), cleansed, cleans·ing.
to become clean.
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Origin of cleanse
before 900; Middle English clensen, Old English clǣnsian, equivalent to clǣne clean + -si- v. suffix + -an infinitive suffix
synonym study for cleanse
1. See clean.
OTHER WORDS FROM cleanse
Words nearby cleanse
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for cleansing
British Dictionary definitions for cleansing
cleanse
/ (klɛnz) /
verb (tr)
to remove dirt, filth, etc, from
to remove guilt from
to remove a group of people from (an area) by means of ethnic cleansing
Derived forms of cleanse
cleansable, adjectiveWord Origin for cleanse
Old English clǣnsian; related to Middle Low German klēnsen; see clean
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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