absterge

The story

1. Latin · derived fromabs-
2. Medieval Latin · derived fromabstergēre“wipe off or away”
3. Middle French · derived fromabsterger
4. English todayabsterge

From French and Middle French absterger or from Medieval Latin abstergēre (“wipe off or away”); formed from Latin abs- + tergeō (“to wipe off”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• First attested in the early 16ᵗʰ century. To make clean by wiping; to wipe away.