asleepadv.adj.
/əˈsliːp/, U.S. /əˈslip/ 1.
a. In a state of sleep, sleeping.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [adverb]
asleep1154
slumberingly1647
off1852
undera1936
1154 Anglo-Saxon Chron. anno 1132 He lai an slep [? and slept] in scip.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 8352 Fand himm þanne o slæpe.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 581 Heo weren on slæpe [c1300 Otho a-slepe].
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. 547 Some abedde aslepe.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1995 My lady lis ȝit a-slape.
a1557 J. Cheke tr. Gospel St. Matthew (1843) ix. 24 This maid is not dead but on sleep.
1611 Bible (King James) Matt. viii. 24 But he was asleepe.
1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect Introd. ii. 51 No voluntary movement is sustained when we are asleep.
b. figurative. In a state of sloth, inactivity, or quiescence; at rest; dormant, inactive, idle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > [adverb] > in a state of inactivity
asleep1590
1590 H. Swinburne Briefe Treat. Test. & Willes vii. f. 280 The legacie not to be asleepe..but to be quite dead and extinguished.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iv. iii. 24 Their pride and mettall is a sleepe . View more context for this quotation
1677 A. Yarranton England's Improvem. 63 The greatest part of the Iron-works are asleep.
1775 J. Harris Philos. Arrangem. xvii. 431 When Sense and Appetite are asleep.
1819 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto I cxlv. 75 During this inquisition Julia's tongue Was not asleep.
2.
a. Into a state of sleep; esp, in the phrases to fall, lull, lay (bring obs.) asleep.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > disposal of corpse > burial > bury or entomb [verb (transitive)]
bedelveOE
begraveOE
burya1000
beburyc1000
bifel-ec1000
layc1000
to fall, lull, lay (bring obs.) asleepOE
tombc1275
gravec1300
inter1303
rekec1330
to lap in leadc1340
to lay to rest, abed, to bed1340
lie1387
to louk in clay (lead, etc.)?a1400
to lay lowa1425
earthc1450
sepulture1490
to put awaya1500
tyrea1500
mould1530
to graith in the grave1535
ingrave1535
intumulate1535
sepult1544
intumil?c1550
yird1562
shrinea1566
infera1575
entomb1576
sepelite1577
shroud1577
funeral1578
to load with earth1578
delve1587
to lay up1591
sepulchrize1595
pit-hole1607
infuneral1610
mool1610
inhumate1612
inurna1616
inhume1616
pit1621
tumulate1623
sepulchrea1626
turf1628
underlay1639
urna1657
to lay to sleep, asleep1701
envaulta1745
plant1785
ensepulchre1820
sheugh1839
to put under1879
to lay away1885
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [verb (intransitive)] > go to sleep or fall asleep
to fall, lull, lay (bring obs.) asleepOE
to fall overa1752
to go off1813
to drop off1820
to fall off1822
to get off to sleep1837
to fall off1862
tope1863
sleepy-baw1907
to go out1928
to zizz off1962
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [verb (transitive)] > put to or cause to sleep
swevec725
to fall, lull, lay (bring obs.) asleepa1500
slumber?1533
soporate1623
insomniatea1657
to get off1836
sleepa1843
the world > action or operation > inaction > make inactive [verb (transitive)] > bring to a state of inactivity
to lay to rest, abed, to bed1591
to fall, lull, lay (bring obs.) asleep1594
to lay to sleep, asleep1692
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [verb (transitive)] > put to or cause to sleep > induce or lull to sleep
lullc1386
wrap1399
sopite1542
to fall, lull, lay (bring obs.) asleep1594
soporate1623
belull1631
consopite1647
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 252 Þa cwædon þa weardas to ðam wælhreowum demum, we feollan on slæpe swarlice ealle swylce we on deaðe lagon.
c1225 (?c1200) Sawles Warde (Bodl.) (1938) 8 (MED) Lest sum..feole o slepe.
c1300 (c1250) Floris & Blauncheflur (Cambr.) (1966) l. 596 Floriz..feolle aslepe.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 7428 Þe king he sal gar fall o-slepe.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxii. 475 Al nyghte he coude not fall a slepe, but wentled in his bed without ony rest.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 181 A-noon after she fill on slepe.
1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus ii. iii. 29 A Nurces song Of Lullabie, to bring her Babe a sleepe.
1613 T. Talbot tr. N. Berzetti Pract. of Meditating with Profit i. 6 This done when he shalbe in bed, before he falls on sleepe.
1645 J. Milton L'Allegro in Poems 35 By whispering Windes soon lull'd asleep.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 102 The Fit wearing off, I fell asleep.
1845 L. S. Costello Falls, Lakes, & Mountains N. Wales i. 13 Ralph..fell asleep and saw in a vision a beautiful virgin.
1879 Ld. Tennyson Lover's Tale (new ed.) 16 They fall asleep Into delicious dreams.
1943 Billboard 21 Aug. 12/3 He fell asleep as he was driving home, his car striking a safety zone post.
2004 G. Woodward I'll go to Bed at Noon xx. 335 He drinks himself silly every afternoon and falls asleep in the red chair.
b. figurative. Into a state of inactivity or quiescence.
ΚΠ
1545 Primer Kynges Maiestie (STC 16034) sig. H.iiv That we in sinne, fall not on slepe.
1608 S. Hieron Helpe vnto Deuotion in Wks. (1620) I. 706 Lulled a sleep in the common security of the times.
1649 Seasonable Warning & Declar. (Church Scotl. Gen. Assembly) 18 Whilst some fell asleep, and were carelesse,..the evil man brought in Prelacy.
1659 T. Burton Diary (1828) IV. 348 The sense of the House was, that he should not speak..Mr. Jenkinson moved the same, and so it fell asleep.
1777 R. Watson Hist. Reign Philip II I. viii. 204 Their apprehensions were laid asleep.
1871 M. Collins Marquis & Merchant III. ii. 64 Don't fall asleep about this affair.
3. figurative. In (or into) the sleep of death; dead.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > dead person or the dead > [adverb]
awayOE
asleep1297
with one's heels foremost (also forward)1637
irresuscitably1834
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. 279 Kyng Edred nou aslepe in oure Louerd is.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) 1 Cor. xv. 18 They which are fallen a slepe in Christ.
1611 Bible (King James) Acts xiii. 36 David..fell on sleepe and was laide vnto his fathers. View more context for this quotation
1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust I. xx. 212 Thy mother's soul, That fell asleep to long, long torment.
4. transferred. Of the limbs: In (or into) a state of numbness caused by continued pressure; benumbed, numb. Formerly also = Stunned.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > physical insensibility > [adjective] > rendered physically insensible > by pressure
asleepa1398
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. iii. xxi. 120 Whanne a lyme is aslepe.
1547 A. Borde Breuiary of Helthe i. f. Cxxviiiv Stonnynge of a membre of a man..he wyl say my legge or myne arme is a slepe.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §735 Leaning long upon any part maketh it numme, and, as we call it, asleepe.
1765 H. Brooke Fool of Quality (Dublin ed.) I. v. 165 She..gave Susy such a Douse on the Side of the Head, as left her fast asleep for an Hour and upward.
1879 W. B. Carpenter Princ. Mental Physiol. (ed. 5) i. ii. §41 Numbness, or diminution of Sensibility..(the hand or foot being ‘asleep’).
1984 Sat. Evening Post May 36/2 Motion discomfort is when your leg falls asleep.
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5. Nautical. ‘The sail filled with wind just enough for swelling or bellying out,—as contrasted with its flapping.’ Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 1867.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adv.adj.OE