Word Study
lave
CIDE DICTIONARY
lave, v. t. [F. laver, L. lavare, akin to luere to wash, Gr. . Cf. Ablution, Deluge, Lavender, Lava, Lotion.].
To wash; to bathe; as, to lave a bruise. [1913 Webster]
"His feet the foremost breakers lave." [1913 Webster]
lave, v. i.
To bathe; to wash one's self. [1913 Webster]
"In her chaste current oft the goddess laves." [1913 Webster]
lave, v. t. [OE. laven. See Lavish.].
To lade, dip, or pour out. Dryden. [1913 Webster]
lave, n. [AS. lāf the remainder, what is left. Leave.].
The remainder; others. Bp. Hall. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
lave, v.tr. literary 1 wash, bathe.
2 (of water) wash against; flow along.
2 (of water) wash against; flow along.
Etymology
ME f. OF laver f. L lavare wash, perh. coalescing with OE lafian
THESAURUS
lave
baptize, bath, bathe, brew, douche, drench, drouk, flush, flush out, gargle, holystone, imbrue, imbue, impregnate, infiltrate, infuse, inject, irrigate, lap, lather, launder, leach, lip, lixiviate, macerate, mop, mop up, percolate, permeate, rinse, rinse out, ritually immerse, saturate, scour, scrub, scrub up, seethe, shampoo, shower, sluice, sluice out, soak, soap, sodden, sop, souse, sponge, steep, swab, syringe, toivel, tub, wash, wash out, wash up, waterlogROGET THESAURUS
lave
Cleanness
VB be clean, render clean, clean, cleanse, mundify, rinse, wring, flush, full, wipe, mop, sponge, scour, swab, scrub, brush up, wash, lave, launder, buck, absterge, deterge, decrassify, clear, purify, depurate, despumate, defecate, purge, expurgate, elutriate, lixiviate, edulcorate, clarify, refine, rack, filter, filtrate, drain, strain, disinfect, fumigate, ventilate, deodorize, whitewash, castrate, emasculate, sift, winnow, pick, weed, comb, rake, brush, sweep, rout out, clear out, sweep out, make a clean sweep of.Water
VB be watery, reek, add water, water, wet, moisten, dilute, dip, immerse, merge, immerge, submerge, plunge, souse, duck, drown, soak, steep, macerate, pickle, wash, sprinkle, lave, bathe, affuse, splash, swash, douse, drench, dabble, slop, slobber, irrigate, inundate, deluge, syringe, inject, gargle.For further exploring for "lave" in Webster Dictionary Online