sound
UK[saʊnd]US[saʊnd]
n
Vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person's or animal's ear.
n
A narrow stretch of water forming an inlet or connecting two larger areas of water.
adj
In good condition; not damaged, injured, or diseased.
adj
Based on valid reason or good judgment.
v
Emit or cause to emit sound.
v
Convey a specified impression when heard.
Etymology
The word 'sound' presents a fascinating case of homonymic convergence from multiple sources. The meaning related to noise traces back through Old French 'son' to the Latin 'sonus', ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root swen- meaning "to sound". The meaning related to health and solidity derives from Old English 'gesund', related to the German 'gesund', from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "safe" or "unharmed". The nautical term for a narrow sea channel comes from Old English 'sund', related to swimming and the sea, sharing a root with 'swim'. These three historically separate words merged into an identical spelling and pronunciation in modern English, creating a rich polysemous term.
Analysis
This is a simplex word. The modern English word 'sound' represents a convergence of three distinct Old English words: 'sund' (swimming, sea), 'gesund' (healthy, safe), and 'soun' (noise, from Old French 'son'). The core form is of Germanic origin.
Examples
The sound of the rain was soothing.
The Puget Sound is a complex system of waterways.
The building's structure is still sound after all these years.