cleanth

C3L1E1A1N1T1H4
/ˈklɛnθ/

noun

The condition or state of being clean; cleanliness

Scrabble 12
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Meanings

nouncleanth (uncountable)
  1. nonstandardrareuncountableThe condition or state of being clean; cleanliness

    "Cleanth and fresh air — that's what I believe in. Throw open the doors and the windows. Let's have some fresh air in here."

    1924, Sherwood Anderson, A Story Teller's Story
    2 more examples

    The Victorians didn't place the highest of priorities on cleanth, and Kingsley played no small part in proselytizing the cause of cleanliness as being part of the godliness business.

    1983, Max Harris, The Unknown Great Australian and Other Psychobiographical Portraits

    'Purity' and 'pollution', the results of 'good' and 'bad' practice respectively, connote spiritual cleanliness and uncleanliness as well as literal 'cleanth' and filth.

    2001, Susannah Hagan, Taking Shape: A New Contract Between Architecture and Nature

Origin

From clean + -th (abstract nominal suffix), modelled after filth, health, wealth, etc.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with cleanth

lengthstrengthtenthnth
All rhymes →

Anagrams

Chantel
Cite this entry
APA

cleanth. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cleanth

MLA

“cleanth.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cleanth. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cleanth,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cleanth.

Source: cleanth on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.