drown
UK[draʊn]US[draʊn]
v
to die because you have been underwater too long and cannot breathe
v
to kill someone by holding them underwater
v
(of a sound) to be so loud that another sound cannot be heard
Etymology
the verb "drown" entered english from the old norse "drukna," meaning "to be drowned." this norse term itself is thought to be a causative formation from a proto-germanic root related to drink, implying a sense of being overcome by liquid. the semantic shift from the act of drinking to perishing in water is a vivid metaphorical extension, picturing the involuntary ingestion of water leading to death. over time, the word's meaning broadened beyond literal death by submersion to include figurative senses, such as being overwhelmed by sound or work.
Analysis
the word is a simplex form derived from a middle english verb. it is not productively formed from separable morphemes in modern english.
Examples
the strong current pulled him under, and he nearly drowned.
the cheers of the crowd drowned out the referee's whistle.
she tried to drown her sorrows after receiving the bad news.