plummeting
UK[ˈplʌmɪtɪŋ]US[ˈplʌmɪtɪŋ]
v
to fall very quickly and suddenly
v
to decrease rapidly in value or amount
Morpheme Breakdown
plummet
ing
plummet
to fall
ing
present participle suffix
Etymology
the word 'plummeting' originates from the latin 'plumbum', meaning lead, the heavy metal. in medieval french, a small lead weight used on a line for measuring depth was called a 'plommet'. this gave rise to the english verb 'plummet', describing the swift, vertical fall of such a weight. the '-ing' suffix, of germanic origin, attaches to form the present participle, capturing the continuous action. thus, 'plummeting' vividly conveys the sense of a rapid, steep, and often uncontrolled descent, much like a lead weight dropping through water or air.
Analysis
Structure: plummet (to fall) + ing (present participle suffix)
plummet: from old french 'plommet', a diminutive of 'plomb' (lead), from latin 'plumbum' (lead). it functions as the core verb meaning to fall straight down like a lead weight.
ing: from old english '-ende', a present participle suffix. it indicates the ongoing action or state of the verb.
Examples
stock prices are plummeting amid fears of a global recession.
the bird folded its wings and went plummeting toward the ground.
temperatures are expected to plummet overnight.