Ablution

Noun

Definition: The act of washing or cleansing oneself, especially as a religious ritual.

Synonyms: Cleansing, Purification, Washing

Antonyms:

Examples:

Muslims perform ablution before prayers.
The priest performed the ablution ceremony.

Mnemonics:

"Ablution, a religious cleansing ritual."

Etymology:

Origin:

Middle English from Latin 'ablutio', from 'abluere' meaning "to wash off".

Historical Usage:

The term 'ablution' has been used to describe various forms of ritualistic washing across different religious and cultural practices.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"Perform ablution"

Explanation:

To carry out the ritualistic act of washing oneself as part of a religious observance.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Ablution is a general term for any kind of washing.

Explanation:

Ablution specifically refers to the act of washing oneself as a religious ritual, often associated with specific religious practices such as Islam, Hinduism, or Judaism. It is not interchangeable with everyday washing.