"act of washing, a cleansing," 1620s, from Latin lavationem (nominative lavatio) "a bathing, bath, bathing apparatus," noun of action from past participle stem of lavare "to wash" (from PIE root *leue- "to wash"). Related: Lavations.
lav
lava
lavage
lavalier
lavaliere
lavation
lavatory
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lavish
law