sink
UK[sɪŋk]US[sɪŋk]
v
to go down below the surface of water, mud, etc.
v
to move to a lower level; to fall or drop
n
a large open container in a kitchen that has taps to supply water and is used for washing dishes
Etymology
The verb 'sink' originates from the Old English 'sincan', meaning "to become submerged, go under, subside". This traces back to the Proto-Germanic 'senkwan-', which carried the same sense. The Proto-Germanic root is further derived from the Proto-Indo-European 'sengw-', meaning "to fall, sink". The core semantic thread from its ancient origin to its modern usage is the concept of descending or moving downward, whether literally through a liquid or figuratively in level, status, or strength. The noun sense, referring to a basin for washing, developed in the early 15th century from the verb, as it is a receptacle where water "sinks" away through a drain.
Analysis
The word 'sink' is a simplex word of Old English origin. It functions as a single, indivisible root.
Examples
The heavy stone will sink quickly to the bottom of the lake.
The sun began to sink below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange.
She left the dirty plates to soak in the kitchen sink.