ablude
v. C2 Proficiency ablude
v. to wash or clean something by using water. This is an old word that you will only see in very old books or poems.
v. to wash or cleanse by the application of water. Primarily found in archaic or poetic contexts; the modern equivalent is 'wash'.
The old poem describes the river abluding the stones.
In the archaic text, the priest is described as abluding his hands before the ceremony began.
The poet uses the archaic verb ablude to evoke a sense of ritual purity and the cleansing power of nature in the ancient landscape.
From Latin ablūdō (“differ from”), from ab (“from”) + lūdō (“play; trick”).