Lave is a simple, monosyllabic word that magically makes the mundane act of washing poetic. Shakespeare used it in The Taming of the Shrew when Gremio assured the father of his …

Definition of 'lave' lave in British English (leɪv ) verb an archaic word for wash

LAVE definition: the remainder; the rest. See examples of lave used in a sentence.

Nov 1, 2025 · lave (plural laves) (archaic except literary, poetic) An act of bathing or washing; a bath or bathe, a wash. quotations

lave (leɪv) vb an archaic word for wash [Old English lafian, perhaps from Latin lavāre to wash]

Lave definition: To wash; bathe.

There are seven meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb lave, three of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

lave definition: wash or flow against. Check meanings, examples, usage tips, pronunciation, domains, related words.

From Middle English lave, laif, lafe ("remainder, rest, that which is left"), from Old English lāf ("lave, remainder, rest"), from Proto-Germanic *laibō (“remainder”), from Proto-Indo-European …

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