Pl. lixivia (rare). [L. lixīvium neut. of lixīvius (also lixīvus) adj., made into lye, f. lix ashes, lye. L. had also the fem. lixīvia, whence F. lessive.] Water impregnated with alkaline salts extracted by lixiviation from wood ashes; lye. Also, a solution obtained from other substances by lixiviation.
1612. Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. (1653), 304. Aqua vitæ is also precious in all Lixiviums against Gangrens.
1651. Biggs, New Disp., ¶ 80. His device was, out of the ashes of a Nettle, to draw a weak Lixivium.
1731. Arbuthnot, Aliments, iv. (1735), 95. The Urine is a Lixivium of the Salts that are in a Human Body.
1736. Bailey, Houshold Dict., 319. Wash it very well with a lixivium of quick lime.
1799. Med. Jrnl., II. 469. The application of a lixivium of soap and water proved successful.
1812. Sir H. Davy, Chem. Philos., 242. The cloths … after being treated with alkaline lixivia … were exposed … to dew and air.
1885. A. Watt, Leather Manuf., xi. 135. A lixivium composed of the dung of pigeons and fowls in water.
1894. Smiles, J. Wedgwood, xviii. 233. Painted colours effected by Prussian lixivium.
¶ Used for: LAVA. In quot. fig.
1814. Sir R. Wilson, Priv. Diary, II. 383. The whole of Europe is a smothered volcano. If the channels of wisdom, justice, and liberality had been opened, the boiling lixivium would have flowed safely away.
