Wordwyrt

lavatory

/ˈlævəˌtɔːɹi/LA-vuh-taw-ree
/ˈlævəˌtɔɹi/LA-vuh-taw-ree

Meaninga washing place

Common meaning: a toilet

Other meanings: once a washing room

Journey through time

  1. Latinlavō, lautum, lōtum‘to wash’
  2. Englishlavatory‘a toilet’ · today

lav also in: delugelotion

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin lavō ‘to wash’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry lavō, p. 1044 · dictionary scan

Roots

Related words

delugelotion

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