lixiviate

English

Etymology

From Latin lixiviare, from lixivius ‘made into lye’, from lix ‘ashes, lye’.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /lɪˈksɪvɪeɪt/

Verb

lixiviate (third-person singular simple present lixiviates, present participle lixiviating, simple past and past participle lixiviated)

1. To separate a substance into soluble and insoluble components through percolation.
   • 1997, Thomas Pynchon, Mason & Dixon:

     the Slaves are out in the Storm, doing their Owners’ Laundry, observing and reading each occurrence of Blood, Semen, Excrement, Saliva, Urine, Sweat, Road-Mud, dead Skin, and other such Data of Biography, whose pure form they practice Daily, before all is lixiviated ’neath Heaven.