abstergent

[ ab-stur-juhnt ]

adjective

1. cleansing.
2. purgative.

noun

1. a cleansing agent, as a detergent or soap.

abstergent

/ əbˈstɜːdʒənt /

adjective

1. cleansing or scouring

Word History and Origins

Origin of abstergent¹

1605–15; < Latin abstergent-, stem of abstergēns, present participle of abstergēre to wipe off, equivalent to abs- abs- + tergēre to wipe; -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of abstergent¹

C17: from Latin abstergent-, abstērgens wiping off, from abs- away, off + tergēre to wipe

Example Sentences

A substance used in cleansing; a detergent; as, soap is an abstergent.

From Project Gutenberg

We prize them for their rough-plastic, abstergent force; to get people out of the quadruped state; to get them washed, clothed, and set up on end; to slough their animal husks and habits; compel them to be clean; overawe their spite and meanness, teach them to stifle the base, and choose the generous expression, and make them know how much happier the generous behaviors are.

From Project Gutenberg

Adj. clean, cleanly; pure; immaculate; spotless, stainless, taintless; trig; without a stain, unstained, unspotted, unsoiled, unsullied, untainted, uninfected; sweet, sweet as a nut. neat, spruce, tidy, trim, gimp, clean as a new penny, like a cat in pattens; cleaned &c. v.; kempt†. abstergent†, cathartic, cleansing, purifying.

From Project Gutenberg

Those of them which are of an abstergent nature, and purge the whole surface of the tongue, if they do it in excess, and so encroach as to consume some part of the flesh itself, like potash and soda, are all termed bitter.

From Project Gutenberg

Some of them are produced by rough, others by abstergent, others by inflammatory substances,—these act upon the testing instruments of the tongue, and produce a more or less disagreeable sensation, while other particles congenial to the tongue soften and harmonize them.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• deodorant
• detergent
• purifier
• soap