To wash the hands of

To wash the hands of
Wash Wash (w[o^]sh), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Washed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Washing}.] [OE. waschen, AS. wascan; akin to D. wasschen, G. waschen, OHG. wascan, Icel. & Sw. vaska, Dan. vaske, and perhaps to E. water. [root]150.] 1. To cleanse by ablution, or dipping or rubbing in water; to apply water or other liquid to for the purpose of cleansing; to scrub with water, etc., or as with water; as, to wash the hands or body; to wash garments; to wash sheep or wool; to wash the pavement or floor; to wash the bark of trees. [1913 Webster]

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, . . . he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person. --Matt. xxvii. 24. [1913 Webster]

2. To cover with water or any liquid; to wet; to fall on and moisten; hence, to overflow or dash against; as, waves wash the shore. [1913 Webster]

Fresh-blown roses washed with dew. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

[The landscape] washed with a cold, gray mist. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster]

3. To waste or abrade by the force of water in motion; as, heavy rains wash a road or an embankment. [1913 Webster]

4. To remove by washing to take away by, or as by, the action of water; to drag or draw off as by the tide; -- often with away, off, out, etc.; as, to wash dirt from the hands. [1913 Webster]

Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins. --Acts xxii. 16. [1913 Webster]

The tide will wash you off. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. To cover with a thin or watery coat of color; to tint lightly and thinly. [1913 Webster]

6. To overlay with a thin coat of metal; as, steel washed with silver. [1913 Webster]

7. To cause dephosphorisation of (molten pig iron) by adding substances containing iron oxide, and sometimes manganese oxide. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

8. To pass (a gas or gaseous mixture) through or over a liquid for the purpose of purifying it, esp. by removing soluble constituents. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

{To wash gold}, etc., to treat earth or gravel, or crushed ore, with water, in order to separate the gold or other metal, or metallic ore, through their higher density.

{To wash the hands of}. See under {Hand}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • To wash the hands of — Hand Hand (h[a^]nd), n. [AS. hand, hond; akin to D., G., & Sw. hand, OHG. hant, Dan. haand, Icel. h[ o]nd, Goth. handus, and perh. to Goth. hin[thorn]an to seize (in comp.). Cf. {Hunt}.] 1. That part of the fore limb below the forearm or wrist in …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wash your hands of — phrase to say or show that you do not want to be involved with someone or something and that you are not responsible for them I’ve decided to wash my hands of her. wash your hands of the affair/​matter: The government had washed their hands of… …   Useful english dictionary

  • wash (your) hands of someone — wash (your) hands of (someone/something) to end all involvement with someone or something. Phil seemed cold and distant, and now she was very afraid that he would wash his hands of her. You can t just wash your hands of the problem of… …   New idioms dictionary

  • wash (your) hands of something — wash (your) hands of (someone/something) to end all involvement with someone or something. Phil seemed cold and distant, and now she was very afraid that he would wash his hands of her. You can t just wash your hands of the problem of… …   New idioms dictionary

  • wash (your) hands of — (someone/something) to end all involvement with someone or something. Phil seemed cold and distant, and now she was very afraid that he would wash his hands of her. You can t just wash your hands of the problem of homelessness …   New idioms dictionary

  • wash your hands of somebody — wash your ˈhands of sb/sth idiom to refuse to be responsible for or involved with sb/sth • When her son was arrested again she washed her hands of him. • I ve washed my hands of the whole sordid business. Main entry: ↑washidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • wash your hands of something — wash your ˈhands of sb/sth idiom to refuse to be responsible for or involved with sb/sth • When her son was arrested again she washed her hands of him. • I ve washed my hands of the whole sordid business. Main entry: ↑washidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • To clap the hands — Hand Hand (h[a^]nd), n. [AS. hand, hond; akin to D., G., & Sw. hand, OHG. hant, Dan. haand, Icel. h[ o]nd, Goth. handus, and perh. to Goth. hin[thorn]an to seize (in comp.). Cf. {Hunt}.] 1. That part of the fore limb below the forearm or wrist in …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wash your hands of — to say or show that you do not want to be involved with someone or something and that you are not responsible for them I ve decided to wash my hands of her. wash your hands of the affair/matter: The government had washed their hands of the affair …   English dictionary

  • wash your hands of it — not be involved anymore, withdraw from a project    If you don t believe in the union, wash your hands of it …   English idioms

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