"relating to or of the nature of a flood," 1650s, from Latin diluvium "flood, inundation," from diluere "wash away," from dis- "away" (see dis-) + -luere, combining form of lavere "to wash" (from PIE root *leue- "to wash"). Related: Diluvianism (1816) "geological theory supposing the occurrence of a former universal deluge."
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