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Webster 1913 Edition

Adj.

[L.

abstergens

, p. pr. of

abstergere

Serving to cleanse, detergent.

Noun.

A substance used in cleansing; a detergent;

as, soap is an

abstergent

Adj.

Wiping; cleansing.

Noun.

a medicine which frees the body from obstructions, as soap; but the use of the word is nearly superseded by detergent, which see.