רָחַץ (b. h.) to bathe, wash. Sabb. 122ᵃ מותר לִרְחוֹץ בה מיד it is permitted to bathe in it immediately (after the exit of the Sabbath); ib. 151ᵃ; Makhsh. II, 5 רוֹחֵץ מיד. Ber. 15ᵃ מי שאין … לרחוץ ידיו (Ms. M. ליטול) he that has no water with which to wash his hands (before prayer). Tosef. Keth. VII, 6 ורוֹחֶצֶת במרחץ עם כל אדם a woman that bathes in a bath-house with all kind of people (loses her jointure). Y. ib. VII, 31ᵇ bot. (as a case for divorce) הדירה שלא תִרְחֲצִי וכ׳ if he bound her by a vow (saying), thou shalt not bathe in a bath-house; a. fr.—Part. pass. רָחוּץ. Zeb. 17ᵇ שלא רְחוּץ ידים וכ׳ not having washed his hands and feet (before a sacred function); Tosef. Men. I, 9. Ib. 12 שלא רחוץ, Var. ולא רָחְצוּ.
Hif. - הִרְחִיץ 1) same, same, to wash, cleanse. Ib. 10 משפשף ומַרְחִיץ he rubs and washes (hands and feet). Ber. l. c. (ref. to Ps. XXVI, 6) דכתיב אֶרְחַץ ולא אַרְחִיץ (v. Ms. M., Rabb. D. S. a. l.) it is written erḥats (I bathe), and not arḥits (I cleanse), i.e. washing of hands as a symbolical act is equal to immersion. Y. Keth. V, 30ᵃ bot. ומַרְחֶצֶת לו וכ׳ she must bathe his feet (personally attend to his foot-bath). Yalk. Cant. 988 שמַרְחִיצִין את ישראל וכ׳ who cleanse Israel from sins; a. e. —2) to cause to bathe. Num. R. s. 132 עתיד … ולהַרְחִיצָם בנחלי חלב the Lord shall cause them to drink …, and to bathe in rivers of milk. Sabb. l. c.; Makhsh. l. c. מרחץ המרחצת בשבת a bath-house that allows bathing (is heated and open) on the Sabbath. Y. Ber. II, 4ᶜ bot. מרחץ ואע"פ שאינה מרחצת a bath-house, even if it is not in use.
Pi. - רִיחֵץ to cleanse.—Part. pass. מְרוּחָץ; pl. מְרוּחָצִין. Cant. R. to IV, 4 שהיו כולן מר׳ מן העונות they were all cleansed of their sins.