I.to wash off or away, to wash, cleanse, purify.
I. Lit.: pulverem lymphis, Pac. ap. Gell. 2, 26, 13 (Trag. Rel. p. 108 Rib.): “Ulixi pedes abluens,” Cic. Tusc. 5, 16, 46: “donec me flumine vivo abluero,” Verg. A. 2, 719: “abluendo cruori balneas petit,” Tac. H. 3, 32.—Poet.: “abluere sitim,” to quench, Lucr. 4, 876; and: abluere sibi umbras, to remove darkness (by bringing a light), id. 4, 378.—Of the washing away of earth by a shower, Varr. R. R. 1, 35.—In eccl. Lat., of baptism: munere divinitatis abluti, Cod. Th. 19, 6, 4.—
II. Trop., of calming the passions: omnis ejusmodi perturbatio animi placatione abluatur, be removed (fig. derived from the religious rite of washing in expiation of sin), Cic. Tusc. 4, 28, 60: “maculam veteris industriae laudabili otio,” to wash out, Plin. Ep. 3, 7, 3: “perjuria,” Ov. F. 5, 681 al.
