Deterge
/dɪˈtɜːrdʒ/noun
To cleanse or remove impurities from something, especially a wound or surface.
Did you know?Deterge belongs to an ancient family of “rubbing-clean” words, which is why its history connects cleansing with the forceful removal of impurity.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*terəg-
“To rub or wipe away”
Classical Latin
Latin
dētergēre
“To wipe off, cleanse, or remove by rubbing”
Late Latin
Latin
dētergēre
“To cleanse or purge away impurities”
16th Century
French
déterger
“To cleanse, especially a wound”
17th Century
English
deterge
“To cleanse or wipe away”
Modern English
English
deterge
“To cleanse a surface or wound by removing impurities”
Explore more surprising origins