n. pl. mik·voth or mik·vot (-vōt, -vōs) or mik·vahs 1. A ritual purification bath that is taken by observant Jews on certain occasions, as before marriage or after menstruation or childbirth, or when converting to Orthodox or Conservative Judaism. 2. A building, room, or fixture in which this bath takes place. [Hebrew miqwâ, reservoir or miqwe, collection (of water), immersion pool, both from qāwâ, to collect; see qbw in the Appendix of Semitic roots.] |
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