Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WASH, v.t. [Sax. wæscan; G. waschen; D. wasschen.]

1. To cleanse by ablution, or by rubbing in water; as, to wash the hands or the body; to wash garments.
2. To wet; to fall on and moisten; as, the rain washes the flowers or plants.
3. To overflow. The tides wash the meadows.
4. To overflow or dash against; to cover with water; as, the waves wash the strand or shore; the sea washes the rocks on the shore or beach.
5. To scrub in water; as, to wash a deck or a floor.
6. To separate extraneous matter from; as, to wash ore; to wash grain.
7. In painting, to lay a color over any work with a pencil, to give it the proper tints, and make it appear more natural. Thus work, is washed with a pale red to imitate brick, &c.
8. To rub over with some liquid substance; as, to wash trees for removing insects or diseases.
9. To squeeze and cleanse in water; as, to wash wool. So sheep are said to be washed, when they are immersed in water and their wool squeezed, by which means it is cleansed.
10. To cleanse by a current of water; as, showers wash the streets.
11. To overlay with a thin coat of metal; as, steel washed with silver.
12. To purify from the pollution of sin. But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified. 1 Cor. vi. To wash a ship, to bring all her guns to one side to make her heel, and then to wash and scrape her side.