abstersev.
/əbˈstəːs/, /abˈstəːs/, U.S. /əbˈstərs/, /ˌæbˈstərs/ Now archaic and rare.
transitive. = absterge v. (literal and figurative).In quot. ?a14251 with object understood.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > clean [verb (transitive)]
yclense971
cleansea1000
farmOE
fayc1220
fowc1350
absterse?a1425
mundify?a1425
muck1429
to cast clean1522
absterge1526
sprinkle1526
reconcile1535
net1536
clengec1540
neat?1575
snuff?1575
rinse1595
deterge1623
scavengea1644
scavenger1645
decrott1653
reform1675
clean1681
deterse1684
fluxa1763
to clean away, offa1839
to clean down1839
scavage1851
untaint1855
to sand and canvas1912
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 104 (MED) Smyte bacward þe cubit, þe handes anoynted with oile gretely abstersyng or wipyng [L. abstergendo].
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 131v Afterward be it abstersed i. wiped [?c1425 Paris clense it; L. absterge] wiþ þis puluer.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica 164 Some attrition from an acide and vitriolous humidity in the stomack..may absterse, and shave the scorious parts thereof. View more context for this quotation
1670 E. Borlase Latham Spaw 33 In facilitating the passage of the stone and gravel, and abstersing its sordes and minera, I find it very successful.
?1796–8 Encycl. Perthensis I. 46/2 To absterse, to cleanse, to purify; a word very little in use, and less analogical than absterge.
1848 Pennsylvania Law Jrnl. 7 336 On the trial motion was made to absterse the name of J. King, Jr. from the record, and insert that of the new trustee.
1984 Jrnl. Mississippi Hist. 46 333 The most zealous abolitionist in Ohio could not more rejoice to see this blot abstersed than would thousands in this country.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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v.?a1425