lave

1
[ leyv ]
See synonyms for: lavelaving on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),laved, lav·ing.
  1. to wash; bathe.

  2. (of a river, sea, etc.) to flow along, against, or past; wash.

  1. Obsolete. to ladle; pour or dip with a ladle.

verb (used without object),laved, lav·ing.
  1. Archaic. to bathe.

Origin of lave

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English laven “to wash, bathe, moisten,” partly from Old French laver, from Latin lavāre “to wash, bathe”; partly from Old English lafian “to pour water on, wash,” gelafian “to wash, lave, refresh,” itself perhaps from Latin lavāre

Other words from lave

  • un·laved, adjective
  • un·lav·ing, adjective

Words Nearby lave

Other definitions for lave (2 of 3)

lave2
[ leyv ]

nounScot.
  1. the remainder; the rest.

Origin of lave

2
First recorded before 1000; Middle English love, lave, loave, Old English lāf “remnant, remains”; cognate with Old High German leiba, Old Norse leif, Gothic laiba; akin to leave1

Other definitions for lave (3 of 3)

lave3
[ leyv ]

adjectiveBritish.
  1. (of ears) large and drooping.

Origin of lave

3
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; special use of lave1

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use lave in a sentence

  • If that's th' kind iv job a sultan has, I'll lave it f'r anny wan to take that wants it.

    Mr. Dooley Says | Finley Dunne
  • Av this is Warter Pocket Canyon, we may not be able to foind this pass if we lave it.

    Frank Merriwell's Bravery | Burt L. Standish
  • Whin they come to see if he was dead, he got up, an' says he: 'lave me at him.'

    Mr. Dooley in Peace and in War | Finley Peter Dunne
  • If you do, then I'll lave the chapel on the spot, and maybe you won't see me agin.

    My New Curate | P.A. Sheehan
  • For the love of God, your reverence, would you lave me put my cap under my knees?

    My New Curate | P.A. Sheehan

British Dictionary definitions for lave

lave

/ (leɪv) /


verb
  1. an archaic word for wash

Origin of lave

1
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