lixiviate

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Verb

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

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

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /lɪk'sɪvɪeɪt/

[edit] Verb

to 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: 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. — Thomas Pynchon, Mason & Dixon