lave
1[leyv]
verb (used with object), laved, lav·ing.
to wash; bathe.
(of a river, sea, etc.) to flow along, against, or past; wash.
Obsolete. to ladle; pour or dip with a ladle.
verb (used without object), laved, lav·ing.
Archaic. to bathe.
Origin of lave
1before 900; Middle English laven, partly < Old French laver < Latin lavāre to wash; partly representing Old English lafian to pour water on, wash, itself perhaps < Latin lavāre
lave
2[leyv]
noun Scot.
Origin of lave
2before 1000; Middle English (Scots); Old English lāf; cognate with Old High German leiba, Old Norse leif, Gothic laiba; akin to leave1
lave
3[leyv]
adjective British.
Origin of lave
3Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for lave
bathe, float, bath, sponge, slosh, imbue, soak, swab, cleanse, douse, wet, bubble, soap, shine, moisten, hose, scrub, launder, scour, lapExamples from the Web for lave
Historical Examples of lave
I lave that to whoever has it, Honor: 'tis enough for me, I see what you do—and that's what I go by.
Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
Plase your honour, I being the lady, expicted I'd get lave to swear first.
Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
Burn the steak he will if I lave him with it, and Moike knows the sort of a bed he makes.
The Widow O'Callaghan's BoysGulielma Zollinger
I want him to get into the state in which he can look at her an' lave her alone!
Changing WindsSt. John G. Ervine
The door's open, and you've my lave; may be we 'll do as well without you, as we're like to do with you.
The Macdermots of BallycloranAnthony Trollope
lave
verb
Word Origin for lave
Old English lafian, perhaps from Latin lavāre to wash
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper