wash
/wɒʃ/
verb
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*waksaną — to wash
Overview
Meaning Now
- To clean something by using water and usually a detergent or soap.
- To flow over or against something in a continuous motion (e.g., waves washing against the shore).
- To dilute or weaken a substance or effect by adding liquid.
Literal older meaning
to cleanse with water
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
wascan
Earliest period
Old English
Journey
The word has been a fundamental part of the Germanic lexicon, describing one of the most basic human activities. Unlike many words borrowed from French during the Middle English period, 'wash' remained a core Germanic survival.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*waksaną
“to wash”
- Old English
wascan
“to wash”
Strong verb in Old English
- Middle English
wassen
“to wash”
Morphological changes in conjugation
- Modern English
wash
“to clean with water”
Connections
Word parts
wash
root
to cleanse
Related across languages
Old High German
wazzan
to wash
Old Norse
vaska
to wash
Dutch
wassen
to wash
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.