water

UK[ˈwɔːtə]US[ˈwɑːtɚ]

A clear liquid without colour, smell, or taste that falls as rain, forms rivers, lakes, and seas, and is essential for life.

To pour water on plants or give water to animals.

(Of the eyes) to fill with tears or (of the mouth) to produce saliva.

Etymology

The word 'water' descends directly from the Old English 'wæter', which itself comes from the Proto-Germanic 'watōr'. This Germanic root can be traced further back to the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root 'wódr̥', meaning 'water'. This ancient root is the source for a vast family of words across many languages, including the German 'Wasser', Dutch 'water', and even the more distantly related Russian 'voda'. The core concept of this essential, life-sustaining liquid has remained remarkably stable throughout its long linguistic journey from the ancient PIE world to its central role in modern English vocabulary.

Analysis

The word is a simplex, derived from a tight Germanic root. It functions as a complete, unanalyzable unit in modern English.

Examples

All living things need water to survive.

Could you water the flowers while I'm away?

The spicy food made my eyes water.