lave

¹

[ leyv ]

verb (used with object)

, laved, lav·ing.

1. to wash; bathe.
2. (of a river, sea, etc.) to flow along, against, or past; wash.
3. Obsolete. to ladle; pour or dip with a ladle.

verb (used without object)

, laved, lav·ing.

1. Archaic. to bathe.

lave

²

[ leyv ]

noun

, Scot.

1. the remainder; the rest.

lave

³

[ leyv ]

adjective

, British.

1. (of ears) large and drooping.

lave

/ leɪv /

verb

1. an archaic word for wash

Other Words From

• un·laved adjective
• un·laving adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lave¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English laven “to wash, bathe, moisten,” partly from Old French laver, from Latin lavāre “to wash, bathe”; partly from Old English lafian “to pour water on, wash,” gelafian “to wash, lave, refresh,” itself perhaps from Latin lavāre

Origin of lave²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English love, lave, loave, Old English lāf “remnant, remains”; cognate with Old High German leiba, Old Norse leif, Gothic laiba; akin to leave ¹

Origin of lave³

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; special use of lave ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of lave¹

Old English lafian, perhaps from Latin lavāre to wash

Example Sentences

The eruption eased pressure that had been building under a lave dome perched on the crater.

From Seattle Times

Because paid lave didn’t make it into the spending plan released by the White House on Thursday, it’s essential that the Virginia legislature pass a paid leave bill in the session that starts in January.

From Washington Post

"This is the last lave net fishery in Wales, we've done everything we can to save it," he said.

From BBC

New elections have been called for next March, and Bartomeu offered to resign if he was the reason Messi wanted to lave.

From Washington Times

Aaron Judge’s return was brief for the hurting New York Yankees, who lave lost five straight.

From Washington Times