LAVE definition: to wash; bathe. See examples of lave used in a sentence.

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 beloved …

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

Feb 21, 2026 · lave (plural laves) (archaic except literary, poetic) An act of bathing or washing; a bath or bathe, a wash. quotations

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"Lave" derives from Old English and Old Norse roots, both tied to washing. This lineage tells a story of shared cultural practices around hygiene and water’s role in daily life.

Lave definition: To wash; bathe.

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

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." Vocabulary.com Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/lave. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.