flushed
Meaning
having a red or pink color in the face, typically from heat, emotion, or physical exertion.
(of a toilet) having had its contents emptied by a sudden flow of water.
Structure
Usage
her face was flushed with excitement after winning the race.
he felt hot and flushed after running up the stairs.
make sure the toilet is properly flushed before leaving the restroom.
Etymology
the word 'flushed' originates from the middle english verb 'flushen', which likely arose as an onomatopoeic imitation of the sound of water rushing or gushing forth. this core sense of a sudden, vigorous flow evolved metaphorically to describe the sudden reddening of the face caused by a rush of blood, a usage first recorded in the 16th century. the participial adjective 'flushed', formed by adding the old english adjectival suffix '-ed', thus denotes the state of having experienced such a sudden flow, whether of water or of blood to the cheeks. its application to toilets, describing their state after being cleansed by a rush of water, directly extends the original literal meaning.
Analysis
flush (middle english, probably imitative of the sound of rushing water) + ed (old english, suffix forming adjectives from nouns or verbs, indicating possession of a quality or being in a state).