Bleach \Bleach\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bleached; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bleaching.]
[OE. blakien, blechen, v. t. & v. i., AS.
bl[=a]cian, bl?can, to grow pale; akin to Icel. bleikja, Sw.
bleka, Dan. blege, D. bleeken, G. bleichen, AS. bl[=a]c pale.
See Bleak, a.]
To make white, or whiter; to remove the color, or stains,
from; to blanch; to whiten.
The destruction of the coloring matters attached to the
bodies to be bleached is effected either by the action
of the air and light, of chlorine, or of sulphurous
acid. --Ure.
Immortal liberty, whose look sublime Hath bleached the
tyrant's cheek in every varying clime. --Smollett.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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