Bathing

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈbeɪˌðɪŋ(ɡ)/

Definitions

1. The process of immersing oneself in water for hygiene or leisure benefits includes both relaxation and ritualistic practices
2. Engaging in a thorough cleansing activity using water, which serves both practical and recreational purposes
3. The act of soaking or washing the body in water to maintain hygiene or enjoy leisure

Etymology: "Bathing" is the form of "bathe" that takes "-ing," so its history is essentially the history of the verb it comes from. The verb descends from Old English "baþian," which meant to immerse or wash oneself in water, and it was shaped over time by the Middle English spelling "bathynge" that appears in the record here. The surprising part is how old the core idea is: the verb has been about the water itself, not about the act of cleaning, since its earliest English uses. Adding "-ing" to a verb turned the action into a noun or a participle, which is why "bathing" can name the activity ("we went bathing in the lake") as well as describe it. That flexibility is a feature of English verbs in general, and "bathing" simply follows the pattern.

Synonyms: washing, cleansing, soaking

Antonyms: dirtying, polluting