Cleanse Meaning
/klɛnz/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
verbTo free from dirt; to clean, to purify.
verbTo spiritually purify; to free from guilt or sin; to purge.
Sentence Examples
Cleanse me! Release me! Set me free!
The Europeans hired an exorcist to cleanse their continent of demons.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The herbal tea aims to ____ your body of harmful toxins.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You should ____ your skin thoroughly every night before going to bed.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English clensen, from Old English clǣnsian, from Proto-West Germanic *klainisōn, from Proto-West Germanic *klainī (“clean”). Cognate with West Frisian klinzgje (“to clean, cleanse”), archaic Dutch kleinzen (“to clean, purify”), Middle Low German klênsen, kleinsen, clensen (“to purify”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"An artificial kidney these days still means a refrigerator-sized dialysis machine. Such devices mimic the way real kidneys cleanse blood and eject impurities and surplus water as urine."
— 2013 June 1, “A better waterworks”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, page 5 (Technology Quarterly):
"[T]he famous Ganges: whoſe vnknowne head, pleaſant ſtreames, and long extent, haue amongſt thoſe Heathen Inhabitants, (by the Tradition of their Forefathers) gained a beliefe of clenſing all ſuch ſinnes, as the bodies of thoſe that waſh therein brought with them: [...]"
— 1626, William Methold [i.e., William Methwold], “Relations of the Kingdome of Golchonda, and Other Neighbouring Nations within the Gulfe of Bengala, Arreccan, Pegu, Tennassery, &c. […]”, in [Samuel] Purchas, Purchas His Pilgrimes. […], 5th part, London: […] William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, […], →OCLC, book, page 993:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The herbal tea aims to ____ your body of harmful toxins.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You should ____ your skin thoroughly every night before going to bed.