English

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; to leach.
   • 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.

Adjective

lixiviate ‎(comparative more lixiviate, superlative most lixiviate)

1. Of or relating to lye or lixivium; of the quality of alkaline salts.
2. Impregnated with salts from wood ashes.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Boyle to this entry?)