wipe etymology

Etymology

The word "wipe" has an uncertain etymology.

Possible Origins:

  • Old English:
    • "wipan" (to drive away, clean)
    • "wæpan" (to weep, cry)
  • Middle Dutch:
    • "wypen" (to rub, polish)
  • Old Norse:
    • "vípa" (to cut off, trim)
  • Middle French:
    • "wiper" (to polish, rub away)

Meaning

1. To rub or clean a surface:

  • Wipe the table with a cloth.
  • I need to wipe my glasses.

2. To remove something by rubbing:

  • Wipe away the tears from your face.
  • He wiped the dirt off his shoes.

3. To kill or destroy:

  • The disease wiped out an entire village.
  • The storm wiped away the crops.

Origin

The word "wipe" has been used in English since the 13th century. It originally meant "to weep" or "to cry," but over time it came to refer to more general actions involving rubbing or cleaning.

Synonyms

  • Clean
  • Rub
  • Polish
  • Scrub
  • Wipe out

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