despume

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/dɪˈspjuːm/

verb

To free from spume, foam or scum.

OriginMiddle English despumen ← Old French despumer ← Latin dēspūmō →
Scrabble 12
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Meanings

verbdespume (third-person singular simple present despumes, present participle despuming, simple past and past participle despumed)

present singular third person despumes · participle present despuming · participle past despumed · past despumed

  1. obsoletetransitiveTo free from spume, foam or scum.

    The Honey must first be cocted in water, and despumed; then must the Vinegar be by little and little adjected

    1657, Jean de Renou, translated by Rich Tomlinson, A Medicinal Dispensatory: Containing the Whole Body of Physick : Discovering the Natures, Properties, and Vertues of Vegetables, Minerals, & Animals

Origin

  1. Latindēspūmō
  2. Old Frenchdespumer
  3. Middle Englishdespumen
  4. Englishdespume

Inherited from Middle English despumen, either borrowed from Old French despumer or Latin dēspūmō. Doublet of despumate.

More words from Middle English, Old French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

despume. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/despume

MLA

“despume.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/despume. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “despume,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/despume.

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