ab-lŭo, ŭi, ūtum, 3, v. a., to wash off or away, to wash, cleanse, purify.
I Lit.: pulverem lymphis, Pac. ap. Gell. 2, 26, 13 (Trag. Rel. p. 108 Rib.): Ulixi pedes abluens, Cic. Tusc. 5, 16, 46: donec me flumine vivo abluero, Verg. A. 2, 719: abluendo cruori balneas petit, Tac. H. 3, 32.—Poet.: abluere sitim, to quench , Lucr. 4, 876; and: abluere sibi umbras, to remove darkness (by bringing a light), id. 4, 378.—Of the washing away of earth by a shower, Varr. R. R. 1, 35.—In eccl. Lat., of baptism: munere divinitatis abluti, Cod. Th. 19, 6, 4.—
II Trop., of calming the passions: omnis ejusmodi perturbatio animi placatione abluatur, be removed (fig. derived from the religious rite of washing in expiation of sin ), Cic. Tusc. 4, 28, 60: maculam veteris industriae laudabili otio, to wash out , Plin. Ep. 3, 7, 3: perjuria, Ov. F. 5, 681 al.