ab⋅lu⋅tion
[uh-bloo-shuh
n] 
| 1. | a cleansing with water or other liquid, esp. as a religious ritual. |
| 2. | the liquid thus used. |
| 3. | a washing of the hands, body, etc. |
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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| ab·lu·tion (ə-blōō'shən, ā-blōō'-) n.
[Middle English ablucioun, from Latin ablūtiō, ablūtiōn-, from ablūtus, past participle of abluere, to wash away : ab-, away; see ab-1 + -luere, to wash; see leu(ə)- in Indo-European roots.] ab·lu'tion·ar'y (-shə-něr'ē) adj. |
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Ablution
Ab*lu`tion\, n. [L. ablutio, fr. abluere: cf. F. ablution. See Abluent.]1. The act of washing or cleansing; specifically, the washing of the body, or some part of it, as a religious rite. 2. The water used in cleansing. "Cast the ablutions in the main." --Pope. 3. (R. C. Ch.) A small quantity of wine and water, which is used to wash the priest's thumb and index finger after the communion, and which then, as perhaps containing portions of the consecrated elements, is drunk by the priest.Cite This Source
ablution
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Main Entry: ab·lu·tion
Pronunciation: &-'blü-sh&n, a-'blü-
Function: noun
: the washing of one's body or part of it —ab·lu·tion·ary /-sh&-"ner-E/ adjective
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Ablution
or washing, was practised, (1.) When a person was initiated into a higher state: e.g., when Aaron and his sons were set apart to the priest's office, they were washed with water previous to their investiture with the priestly robes (Lev. 8:6). (2.) Before the priests approached the altar of God, they were required, on pain of death, to wash their hands and their feet to cleanse them from the soil of common life (Ex. 30:17-21). To this practice the Psalmist alludes, Ps. 26:6. (3.) There were washings prescribed for the purpose of cleansing from positive defilement contracted by particular acts. Of such washings eleven different species are prescribed in the Levitical law (Lev. 12-15). (4.) A fourth class of ablutions is mentioned, by which a person purified or absolved himself from the guilt of some particular act. For example, the elders of the nearest village where some murder was committed were required, when the murderer was unknown, to wash their hands over the expiatory heifer which was beheaded, and in doing so to say, "Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it" (Deut. 21:1-9). So also Pilate declared himself innocent of the blood of Jesus by washing his hands (Matt. 27:24). This act of Pilate may not, however, have been borrowed from the custom of the Jews. The same practice was common among the Greeks and Romans. The Pharisees carried the practice of ablution to great excess, thereby claiming extraordinary purity (Matt. 23:25). Mark (7:1-5) refers to the ceremonial ablutions. The Pharisees washed their hands "oft," more correctly, "with the fist" (R.V., "diligently"), or as an old father, Theophylact, explains it, "up to the elbow." (Compare also Mark 7:4; Lev. 6:28; 11: 32-36; 15:22) (See WASHING.)
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ablution
in religion, a prescribed washing of part or all of the body or of possessions, such as clothing or ceremonial objects, with the intent of purification or dedication. Water, or water with salt or some other traditional ingredient, is most commonly used, but washing with blood is not uncommon in the history of religions, and urine of the sacred cow has been used in India.
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