ablution

noun

1. a cleansing with water or other liquid, especially as a religious ritual.
2. the liquid thus used.
3. Usually ablutions. a washing of the hands, body, etc.

noun

1. the ritual washing of a priest’s hands or of sacred vessels
2. (often plural) the act of washing (esp in the phrase perform one’s ablutions)
3. (plural) military informal a washing place

n.

“ritual washing,” late 14c., from Latin ablutionem (nominative ablutio), noun of action from past participle stem of abluere “to wash off,” from ab- “off” (see ab-) + luere “wash,” related to lavere (see lave).