drain
UK[dreɪn]US[dreɪn]
v
to make liquid flow away from something or to flow away
v
to make someone feel very tired and without energy
n
a pipe or channel that carries away waste water and other liquids
n
something that continuously uses up money, time, or energy
Etymology
the word 'drain' originates from the old english verb 'drēahnian', meaning 'to strain, filter'. this term is related to 'drēag', meaning 'dry', suggesting a process of removing liquid to achieve dryness. it is cognate with old saxon 'drēhnian' and old norse 'dreyna', all pointing to a proto-germanic root concerned with drying or straining. the semantic core has consistently involved the removal or gradual withdrawal of liquid, which extended metaphorically to the depletion of non-liquid resources like energy or wealth.
Analysis
the word is a simplex unit derived from old english 'drēahnian'.
Examples
remember to drain the pasta before adding the sauce.
the long meeting completely drained my enthusiasm for the project.
the faulty appliance was a constant drain on our electricity bill.