soaking

the word 'soaking' is a transparent english formation from the verb 'soak' and the suffix '-ing'. the verb 'soak' originates from old english socian, meaning 'to become saturated, to lie in liquid', which is of west germanic lineage. the '-ing' suffix, also from old english, serves a dual function: it can create the present participle form of a verb, used adjectivally (as in 'the soaking rain'), or a deverbal noun denoting the action or process (as in 'a long soaking'). the literal sense of the morphemes—'to saturate' plus the action/state suffix—combines directly to form the modern meanings related to the state of being thoroughly wet or the process of causing such a state.

Structure: soak + ing soak: from old english socian (to become saturated with liquid), of west germanic origin; the verbal root. ing: from old english -ende, -ung, a suffix forming present participles and verbal nouns.