Pedilavium
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 The rite of foot-washing based on the act carried out by Jesus Christ on his disciples at the Last Supper. Depending on the church or denomination, it may be carried out at baptism, during Holy Communion, or as part of a Maundy Thursday service; maundy.
"Part of the church service on Maundy Thursday is the pedilavium."
- 2 A footbath carried out for therapeutic purposes; a pediluvium. obsolete
"[S]ome Diſorders of the Head, how remote ſoever therefrom, are hereby (together with other Remedies) excellently well provided for, on Account of the Community there is between theſe Parts, as well as others, by Means not only of the Blood-veſſels, but the nervous Fibrillæ alſo; ſo that ſome have apply'd Plaiſters to the Soles of the Feet to cauſe Reſt, inſtead of taking an hypnotic Draught; and I have known others by the Uſe of a Pedilavium, who have more certainly and pleaſantly procur'd to themſelves the ſame, when the common Doſe of Laudanum would do nothing to that Purpoſe; […]"
Example
More examples"Part of the church service on Maundy Thursday is the pedilavium."
Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin pedilavium (“footbath”), from Latin pedi- (“foot”) (from pēs (“foot”)) + lavāre (“to wash”) + -ium (suffix forming abstract nouns).
Related phrases
More for "pedilavium"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.