Forms: 1 clǽnsian, clénsian, (ʓeclásnian, clǽsnian), 2–7 clense(n, (3 clansi, klens, clennsenn (Orm.), 3–5, 9 dial. clanse, 4 clens, clensi, clenze, clenese, 5 clansy), 6– cleanse. [OE. clǽnsian, clénsian:—WGer. type *klainisôn, f. klaini, OE. clǽne: cf. OE. rícsian, OHG. rîchisôn to rule, rinse, ON. hreinsa. The frequent ME. and mod. dial. clanse may represent an OE. clánsian (cf. cláne under CLEAN), or it might be from clænsian with shortened æ, as clense from clensian. The mod. spelling cleanse seems to be artificial, assimilated to clean. This is the original vb., on the domain of which the recent to clean has intruded.
The type of verbs in -isôn, -irôn:—OTeut. -isôjan, -izôjan, appears to have started from verbs in -ojan formed on -s stems, as Goth. hatizôn, OHG. agisôn, sigirôn. The OE. ʓeclásnian, clǽsnian may be examples of metathesis: but the occurrence of a form clǽnsnian, whence they may be contracted, makes their history doubtful.]
1. trans. To make clean, purify, free from dirt or filth (Johnson says ‘by washing or rubbing’). Formerly the ordinary word; but in mod. times to clean has largely taken its place in every-day use, and cleanse remains a more elevated word, having less immediate association with dirt, and more available for fig. and transf. uses. In some dial. clanse is similarly distinguished from clean, and used esp. in senses 5–7.
a. 1000. Laws Ethelred, ix. § 40, Thorpe, I. 348. Gif man eard wille clænsian.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 314. Þe poure widewe hwon heo wule clensen hire hus.
1413. Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, IV. xxxiv. (1483), 83. Bras draweth soone ruste yf it be not clensid.
1467. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 372. That intrailles of bestes and blode putts be clansed … by night.
1536. in Thynne, Animadv., Introd. 28. He … shall scoure, clense, and substancially make clene all & euery of the Synkes belonginge vnto the kechyns.
1628. Digby, Voy. Medit. (1868), 13. Opportunitie to cleanse my shippes.
1738. Birch, Milton, in Wks. (1738), I. 38. After the Sickness was over, and the City well cleansed … Milton return’d to London.
1808. Med. Jrnl., XIX. 227. A solution of borax was given to cool and cleanse his mouth.
1883. G. Lloyd, Ebb & Flow, II. 179. A whole house placed in their hands, to be thoroughly cleansed and repaired.
fig. 1850. Merivale, Rom. Emp. (1865), II. xiii. 77. It was not by merely removing the scum from the surface that the fountain of justice could be really cleansed.
absol. 1477. Norton, Ord. Alch., v. in Ashm. (1652), 59. Water clenseth with ablution blive.
1611. B. Jonson, Catiline, II. ii. 59. This gray Powder [is] a good Dentifrice … and cleanses very well.
a. 1862. Buckle, Civiliz., III. v. 476. It was better to cleanse than to fast.
2. To make morally or spiritually clean; to purify or free from sin or guilt. Const. of, from.
[c. 825. Vesp. Psalter xviii. 13. From deʓelnissum … ʓeclasna me dryhten.]
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Past., liv. 419. Hi selfe to clænsianne mid ðy wope.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 87. Þe children were clensed of sinnen.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 12840 (Fairf.). Goddis lambe þat clense [Trin. clensen] sale þis … werlde fra sinful bale. Ibid., 26373. Þen mai ȝe best ȝou clanse [Cott. clenge] of synne.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. IV. 361. Of oure sory synnes asoiled and clansed.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xxiii. 81 (Harl. MS.). I shal go to a confessour, and clansy me.
1548. Prayer-bk., Commun., Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts.
1630. Prynne, Anti-Armin., 158. Able to clense the Elect from all their sinnes.
1835. Trench, Justin Martyr, 16. You cannot cleanse your heart with tears.
b. with the sin or crime as obj.: To purge, wash away, expiate.
971. Blickl. Hom., 35. Þæt we … ure synna clænsian.
a. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 2400. Syn þat es wele clensed here.
1700. Dryden, trans. Ovid’s Cinyras & Myrrha, 20, in Fables, 174 (J.). Nor all her od’rous Tears can cleanse her Crime.
1883. Gilmour, Mongols, xvii. 205. Each prayer repeated has a certain value in cleansing away sin.
3. To make ceremonially or sanitarily clean: a. ceremonially, as in the Mosaic Law.
[c. 1000. Ælfric, Exod. xxix. 36. Þu aclænsast ꝥ weofod and ʓehalʓast.]
c. 1000. Laws Edw. & Guthr., in Thorpe, I. 174. Clænsie man þa þeode.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3453. God dede moyses ðis bodeword on, Clense ðis folc wel ðis to daiȝes.
1382. Wyclif, Acts x. 15. That thing that God hath clensid, thou schalt not seie vnclene.
1611. Bible, ibid. What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
b. from leprosy or other disease. arch.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. x. 8. Clænsiað hreofle.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. x. 8. Vpreyse ȝee dead men, clense ȝe meselis.
1611. Bible, Luke vii. 22. The lepers are clensed.
† 4. To acquit, clear or exonerate (of a charge). Obs. (In later times only Sc.; cf. CLENGE.)
a. 1000. Laws Ethelred, iii. § 7, in Thorpe, I. 296. Gif hwa þeof clænsian wylle.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4477. Þu sal be vte of presun tan, And clensid be bifor iustise.
c. 1568. in H. Campbell, Love-lett. Mary Q. Scots (1824), App. 47. April 12 … Bothwell wes cleansit werray strangely, as the process beiris.
1637–50. Row, Hist. Kirk (1842), 387. The votes being asked, seven did cleanse him absolutelie.
5. To clear, to rid; properly of, from, († with) things that defile, but it has also been used of things that obstruct, cumber, or merely occupy; cf. to CLEAR.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 610. Me is lof to Cristes huse, To clansi hit with fule muse.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 475 (Fairf.). He … clanset þat court of ham so clene.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, I. 339 (Mätz.). Seynt Patryk clensed þat lond of wormes and oþere venemous bestes.
1557. Order Hospitalls, H iiij b. [The Beadle] shall cleanse all the same Wards from beggars.
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia, III. 80. The house thus cleansed [of Salvages], the King … excused this intrusion.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 206. Cleanse Vines of exuberant Branches.
1669. Worlidge, Syst. Agric., x. § 4 (1681), 220. Gold-Finches are very injurious to the Goosbury Buds … cleansing a whole Garden of them immediately.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 17. 119. The orb gained the victory and cleansed the mountains from every trace of fog.
1879. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., Clanse, to clear, to free from impurities or superfluous matter.
b. To clear of inequalities or unevennesses; to smooth, polish (wood or metal).
1677. Moxon, Mech. Exerc. (1703), 205. Once wrought to the true size, you cannot afterwards take any more off to cleanse it.
(In this sense clanse is used by gunsmiths in the midland counties.)
c. To clear out (rubbish, etc.).
1628. Prynne, Cens. Cozens, 32. All Popish Reliques were not so fully clensed out, as afterwards they were.
6. To free from noxious humours; to purge. Also absol.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 240. Hat wæter .. þæt clæsnað þa wambe. Ibid., 260. Sio wamb biþ to clænsianne.
c. 1400. Blood-Letting, in Rel. Ant., I. 190. Domistica clanseth ful welle The blader within every delle.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, C j b. It shall clense wele hir bowillis.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., II. vii. 60. I will through and through Cleanse the foule bodie of th’infected world, If they will patiently receiue my medicine.
1731. Arbuthnot, Aliments (ed. 4), 122–3 (J.). This Oil … makes it saponaceous and cleansing [1731 detergent], by which Quality it often helps Digestion.
1881. Shropsh. Word-Bk., s.v., A dosa o’ camomine tay … ood clanse the stomach.
7. intr. (for refl.) To pass the afterbirth.
1614. Markham, Cheap Husb., I. iii. (1668), 35. If your Mare … will not clense after she hath foaled, you shall take a pint of running water, &c.
1884. Chester Gloss. (E. D. S.), s.v. Clanse, A cow is said to clanse when she discharges the placenta after calving.
