† laˈvacre Obs.
Also 6 Sc. lavachre.
[ad. L. lavācrum bath, f. lavāre to wash: see lave v.1]
A bath or font; esp. in figurative phrases descriptive of baptism, e.g. lavacre of regeneration, lavacre of salvation, after Tit. iii. 5 Vulg. lavacrum regenerationis (cf. laver n.2 2).
| 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Luke iii. 47 To consecrate and halowe the lavacre or founte of eternall salvacion. a 1572 Knox Hist. Ref. Wks. 1846 I. 304 Thei war receaved in his houshold by the lavachre of spirituall regeneratioun. 1657 Tomlinson Renou's Disp. 185 They were so much taken with Lavacres that some of them..would bathe them⁓selves seven times a day. |