ABLUTION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ablution mean? 

• ABLUTION (noun)
  The noun ABLUTION has 1 sense:

1. the ritual washing of a priest's hands or of sacred vessels

  Familiarity information: ABLUTION used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ABLUTION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The ritual washing of a priest's hands or of sacred vessels

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("ablution" is a kind of...):

lavation; wash; washing (the work of cleansing (usually with soap and water))

ritual (the prescribed procedure for conducting religious ceremonies)

Derivation:

ablutionary (cleansing the body by washing; especially ritual washing of e.g. hands)

 Context examples 

Mr. Darcy may perhaps have heard of such a place as Gracechurch Street, but he would hardly think a month's ablution enough to cleanse him from its impurities, were he once to enter it; and depend upon it, Mr. Bingley never stirs without him.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)