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
- To free from dirt; to clean, to purify; To...
Ancestry of “cleanse”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | clensen | — |
| 2 | Old English | clǣnsian | — |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | klainisōną | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | klainiz | shining, fine, splendid; tender, precious |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | g(e)lēi- | gleaming |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵel- | to swallow; swallow |
Words derived from “cleanse”