Cleanse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cleansed; p. pr. & vb. n. Cleansing.]
Etymology: [AS. clænsian, fr. clæne clean. See Clean.]
To render clean; to free from fith, pollution, infection, guilt, etc.; to clean. If we walk in the light . . . the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John i. 7. Can'st thou not minister to a mind diseased, And with some sweet oblivious antidote Cleanse the suffed bosom of that perilous stuff Which weighs upon the heart Shak.
Shades of meaning
To clean is to make clean by removing dirt, impurities, or soil of any kind. Cleanse implies a worse condition to start from, and more to do, than clean. Hercules cleansed the Augean stables. Cleanse is especially applied to purifying processes where liquid is used, as in the flushing of a street, etc. We brush clothing if dusty, sponge it, or sponge it off, if soiled; or sponge off a spot. Furniture, books, etc., are dusted; floors are mopped or scrubbed; metallic utensils are scoured; a room is swept; soiled garments are washed; foul air or water is purified. Cleanse and purify are used extensively in a moral sense; wash in that sense is archaic. Compare amend.
Prepositions
Cleanse of or from physical or moral defilement; cleanse with an instrument; by an agent; the room was cleansed by the attendants with soap and water.