Where does “cleanse” come from?

Cleanse comes from Old English clǣnsian, derived from Proto-West Germanic klainisōną, from Proto-Germanic klainiz, ultimately tracing through Proto-Indo-European gley-, gel-, gewl-, and gū-.

cleanse (English): To free from dirt; to clean, to purify; To...

Definitions

  1. To free from dirt; to clean, to purify; To...

Ancestry of “cleanse”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishclensenTo clean or purify
2Old Englishclǣnsian—
3Proto-West Germanicklainisōną—
4Proto-Germanicklainizshining, fine, splendid; tender, precious
5Proto-Indo-Europeang(e)lēi-gleaming
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵel-to swallow; swallow

Words derived from “cleanse”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European g(e)lēi- →Every word from Proto-Germanic klainiz →