detersive

[ dih-tur-siv ]

adjective

1. cleansing; detergent.

noun

1. a detersive agent or medicine.

Other Words From

• de·tersive·ly adverb
• de·tersive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of detersive¹

1580–90; < Middle French détersif < Latin dēters ( us ) (past participle of dētergēre; deterge ) + -if -ive

Example Sentences

In the first case, we see evidence of exanthematic diseases, which present only the lightest forms of detersive disorders, such as measles, scarlatina, or that more serious one, from its pustulous form, the small-pox.

From Project Gutenberg

If, again, grief were an antiseptic for future misdeeds or a detersive for past faults, one might again understand, but now it falls indifferently on the bad and on the good; it is blind.

From Project Gutenberg

The wood of it is full of sap, and as it burns sends forth a very biting smoke; and the ashes of it thoroughly burnt are so acrimonious, that they make a lye extremely detersive.

From Project Gutenberg