sleepwalk
UK[ˈsliːp.wɔːk]US[ˈsliːp.wɑːk]
v
to walk around while you are asleep
Morpheme Breakdown
sleep
walk
sleep
state of rest
walk
move on foot
Etymology
the word 'sleepwalk' is a transparent compound formed from two old english (germanic) elements. the first element, 'sleep', originates from the proto-germanic slēp-, which is related to the state of rest and unconsciousness. the second element, 'walk', comes from proto-germanic walkaną, which had a broader sense of movement, including to roll or wander, before specializing to mean moving on foot. the compound logically and literally describes the act of walking while in a state of sleep, a phenomenon known medically as somnambulism. its formation follows the straightforward pattern of combining two common, existing english words to create a new, descriptive term.
Analysis
Structure: sleep (state of rest) + walk (move on foot)
sleep: old english, from proto-germanic slēp-, meaning "sleep". functions as the base noun/verb indicating the state of unconscious rest.
walk: old english, from proto-germanic walkaną, meaning "to roll, toss, or move about". functions as the verb indicating the action of moving on foot.
Examples
he has been known to sleepwalk during periods of high stress.
the child would occasionally sleepwalk to the kitchen and back.
it can be dangerous to sleepwalk near stairs or open windows.