absterge

transitive verb

ab·​sterge

abzˈtərj,

əb-,

-bˈst-

-ed/-ing/-s

archaic

: to cleanse especially by wiping : purge

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French absterger, from Latin abstergēre, from abs- (variant of ab- ab- entry 1) + tergēre to wipe off

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined above

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