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单词 sink
释义

sinkn.1

Brit. /sɪŋk/, U.S. /sɪŋk/
Forms: late Middle English cynke, late Middle English synkke, late Middle English–1600s synk, late Middle English–1600s synke, 1500s syncke, 1500s–1600s sinck, 1500s–1600s sincke, 1500s–1700s sinke, 1500s– sink, 1600s sinct (Scottish).
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: sink v.
Etymology: < sink v.Compare West Frisian sink lead weight used in fishing, part of the fishing line between the hook and the float (20th cent.), early modern Dutch sinke lavatory, drain, sewer (1599, perhaps < English; only recorded in Kiliaan, who marks it as obsolete and compares the English word), German regional Sinke a hollow or depression in the ground (18th cent.). With senses 2c and 5c compare classical Latin sentīna bilge-water, sink (see sentine n.). With sense 16 compare earlier sinker n.1 5a and sinkstone n. 2. The following earlier instance cited by Middle Eng. Dict. from slip materials collected by N.E.D. has not been found in the primary source:1346 Accts. Exchequer King's Remembrancer (P.R.O.: 470/17) m. 1 in Middle Eng. Dict. (at cited word) De xiij pedibus di. petrarum de Cadamo operatis pro sincrestes pro dicta alura.
I. A place where waste material accumulates, and related uses.
1.
a. A pool or pit formed in the ground for collecting waste water, sewage, etc.; a cesspool. Later spec.: a temporary latrine, as dug on an army campsite. Also in figurative context. Now chiefly historical.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > sanitation > provision of sewers > sewage treatment > [noun] > use of cesspools or lagoons > cesspool or pit
sink1413
midden pita1425
sinkhole1456
suspiralc1512
sentine1537
dung pit1598
muck pit1598
sinker1623
bumby1632
sump1680
sump hole1754
jaw-hole1760
recess1764
cesspool1783
dead-hole1856
soil-tank1861
cesspit1864
lagoon1909
sewage lagoon1930
1413–14 in J. T. Fowler Extracts Acct. Rolls Abbey of Durham (1898) I. 268 (MED) In reparacione Infirmarii..emendacione de le synk, 10 d.
1463 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 20 Ye newe prevy hous ovir the synkke.
c1530 A. Barclay Egloges ii. sig. Jiij v Of a treyn vessell, than must thou nedy drynke Olde blake and rusty, lately takyn fro some synke.
1567 Compend. Bk. Godly Songs (1897) 185 The watter of life we gaif thame neuer to drink, Bot stinkand pulis of euerie rottin synk.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus (1623) iii. ii. 19 Against thy hart make thou a hole, That all the teares that thy poore eyes let fall May run into that sinke.
1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 373 He converted..the Sepulchre into a Sink or common House of Ease.
1726 G. Leoni tr. L. B. Alberti Architecture I. 58/1 Make good large Sinks, and..fill them up with Sand, which will suck up..the superfluous moisture.
1731 J. Swift To Gay in Wks. (1735) II. 424 You want a Hand to clear a filthy Sink; No cleanly Workman can endure the Stink.
1780 G. Washington Writings (1937) XVIII. 95 All possible attention is to be paid to cleanliness in the interior and environs of camp; Sinks are to be dug without delay.
1856 A. P. Stanley Sinai & Palestine iii. 179 The cave within being the sink described in the Talmud as that into which the blood and offal of the sacrifices were drained off.
1898 Med. News 73 171/2 The man with typhoid fever who uses a camp sink, and who through careless policing leaves the sink with soiled hands, can transmit..the germs of his disorder.
1976 Wymondham & Attleborough Express 10 Dec. 8/3 It is probably due to the fact that the Mere has been used over the centuries as a public sink that the town has turned its back upon it.
2013 D. Lambdin Hostile Shores 214 They should've dug sinks for their own wastes, but it doesn't smell like it.
b. A conduit, drain, or pipe for carrying away dirty water or sewage; a sewer. Also: an opening specially made for this purpose. Now rare (English regional in later use).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > sanitation > provision of sewers > [noun] > sewer
cockey1390
gutterc1440
soughc1440
sew1475
withdraught1493
sink1499
syre1513
closet1531
draught1533
vault1533
drain1552
fleet1583
issue1588
drainer1598
guzzle1598
shore1598
sewer1609
vennel1641
cloaca1656
cuniculus1670
pend1817
thurrock1847
sewer line1977
1499 Promptorium Parvulorum (Pynson) sig. cv/1 Cynke of a Lawere, mergulus.
1509–10 in J. T. Fowler Extracts Acct. Rolls Abbey of Durham (1898) I. 105 Pro layng le Synkys in lardar. carn. et pisc.
1564 N. Haward tr. Eutropius Briefe Chron. i. sig. C.iiiv He builded..sinkes also to avoid the filthe & ordure of the city.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 582 The vaulted sinks also and draughts..which he deuised, by..cutting through the seuen hils.
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 12 The Lye-Trough and Rincing-Trough he places towards some corner of the Room,..and under these he causes a Sink to be made to convey the Water out of the Room.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 95 To cut a Hole thro' my new Fortification like a Sink to let Water go out.
1774 Beverley & Hessle Road Act ii. 9 Ditches, watercourses, sinks or drains.
1847 W. C. L. Martin Ox 96/1 Two sinks, or drains, with iron gratings over them, to catch the fluid refuse from the gutters.
1852 in G. W. Malambre Laws & Gen. Ordinances of City of Dayton (1855) 110 For the purpose of preventing nuisances..arising from waste water in gutters, flowing from street pumps, or from any other source, sinks or sewers shall be dug at every such pump.
1914 U. D. Brown Housing Conditions in Plainfield and North Plainfield 23 The yard hydrants are usually equipped with an iron sink or drain.
1979 N. Rogers Wessex Dial. 87/1 Sink, a drain outside, such as the drains in the road.
2. figurative.
a. A gathering-place or repository of vice, corruption, etc.Also occasionally used of a person.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > [noun] > place of evil
swallowc1380
hella1450
sink1526
pump1531
Sodom?1550
Tophet1618
pandemonium1800
hell's kitchen1827
sin city1973
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. QQQvi Manasses was as the pyt & synke of all fylthe of syn.
1547 J. Harrison Exhort. Scottes sig. b.vv Afore I will stirre that vnsauery sinke of treson and trecherie.
1610 J. Boys Expos. Dominical Epist. & Gospels 108 When our bodies are sinkes of sinne, wee cannot be an holie sacrifice.
1684 tr. T. Bonet Guide Pract. Physician vi. 160 Unless that humour be discharged, it will become a sink of many difficult evils.
1707 J. Stevens tr. F. de Quevedo Comical Wks. (1709) 410 The Man..was the very sink of Fraud and Deceit.
1764 O. Goldsmith Traveller 19 Where..monarchs toil..One sink of level avarice shall lie.
1822 W. Hazlitt Table-talk (1869) 2nd Ser. x. 196 The low, dull, level sinks of ignorance and vulgarity.
1855 J. L. Motley Rise Dutch Republic I. ii. v. 440 The justice and finance councils were sinks of iniquity.
1898 Bookman Nov. 54/2 But underneath is a sink of corruption, never uncovered, but darkly, potently hinted.
1990 S. S. Tepper Raising Stones ii. iii. 261 The prophets would surely condemn any woman who looked pretty. Women were sinks of sin. They weren't supposed to look pretty.
2011 J. Cartwright Other People's Money (2012) xvi. 157 London is a sink of iniquity, double-dealing and miscegenation.
b. A place where vice or corruption is rampant. Later also in weakened use: a place characterized by stagnation, poverty, or social neglect. Cf. Compounds 1.
ΚΠ
1551 J. Bale Actes Eng. Votaryes: 2nd Pt. Pref. sig. A.ij Rome hath bene so synnefull a synke and pernicyouse puddell.
1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. xi. 183 To toyle it self..in this sinke here beneath, I meane this elementall world.
1622 M. Drayton 2nd Pt. Poly-olbion xix. 2 A Citys but a sinke, gay houses gawdy graues.
1647 T. Fuller Good Thoughts in Worse Times iii. vi. 111 This necessary severity doth sweep their state from being the sink of Sinners, the Rendezvous of Rogues.
1691 J. Norris Pract. Disc. Divine Subj. 258 Any good that this World, this Sediment and Sink of the Creation can afford.
1700 J. Swift Let. 4 May in Corr. (1963) I. 34 No woman in the world of the same income would dwindle away her health and life in such a sink.
1746 Duke of Richmond Let. 30 Nov. in Corr. Dukes of Richmond & Newcastle (1984) 235 I have wrote to..beg his protection for Albemarle that he may..not remain in that sinke of the Earth Scotland.
1855 F. Saunders & T. B. Thorpe Voice to Amer. (ed. 2) 311 Shall our native land become a sink for the pollution of the civilized world?
1884 J. Sharman Cursory Hist. Swearing viii. 150 The sinks and hiding-places of a great city.
1971 A. Finlayson Redcoat in Boston xiii. 220 Locking you up in this dreadful sink, calling you names. As if you were an animal, a monster.
1998 C. A. Stray Classics Transformed iv. 86 Some schools attempted to broaden their curriculum by establishing Modern Sides... These Sides seem to have become..sinks for boys deemed unable to cope with the classical curriculum.
†c. derogatory. The most worthless part of a population; the dregs, the scum. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > the common people > low rank or condition > the lowest class > [noun] > persons of the lowest class (collectively)
chenaille1340
offal?a1425
putaylea1425
ribaldail1489
abject1526
offscouring1526
dreg1531
outsweeping1535
braggery1548
ribaldry1550
raff1557
sink1574
cattle1579
offscum1579
rabble1579
baggagery1589
scum1590
waste1592
menialty1593
baggage1603
froth1603
refuse1603
tag-rag1609
retriment1615
trasha1616
recrement1622
silts1636
garbage1648
riffle-raffle1668
raffle1670
riff-raff1678
scurf1688
mob1693
scouring1721
ribble-rabble1771
sweeping1799
clamjamphrie1816
ragabash1823
scruff1836
residuum1851
talent1882
1574 J. Baret Aluearie R 44 The rascall & vile sort of men: ye sinke of the citie. Sordes, sentina, colluuies vrbis.
a1658 J. Cleveland Rustick Rampant in Wks. (1687) 407 No less than 5000 of the sink of the People meet ill armed.
1702 R. L'Estrange tr. Josephus Wars of Jews iv. vi, in Wks. 898 As to their Quality, they are the very Scum and Sink of Mankind.
1740 in C. Wordsworth Scholae Academicae (1877) 313 2 of King's College..happened to meet with some of ye sink of ye Town.
†d. A mass of unpleasant matter. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > [noun] > moral foulness > collective mass of moral filth
sink1577
1577 R. Holinshed Chron. II. 1684/2 So many grieuous faults meetyng togither in one sinke.
1589 ‘Marphoreus’ Martins Months Minde To Rdr. sig. C3 To leaue furder stirring of this stinking sinke.
1622 R. Sanderson Two Serm. Boston i. 45 I irke to rake longer in this sinke.
3. gen. A repository of foul or waste matter. Now rare..See also Phrases 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > dirty place > [noun]
fenc888
longayne1340
sloven's inn?1518
slut's corner1570
sink1590
Augean stable1596
spittle1624
spital1771
expectoratory1836
mill-tail1854
stable1903
pisshole1928
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. i. sig. A6 She poured forth out of her hellish sinke Her fruitfull cursed spawne of serpents small.
1601 J. Weever Mirror of Martyrs sig. Cijv The sea [is now] a sinke, and riuers to the same Are rotten pipes.
1655 N. Culpeper et al. tr. L. Rivière Pract. Physick xiii. ii. 363 The Mesentery..is as it were the sink into which the Noble Parts do send their superfluous Excrements.
a1677 J. Taylor Contempl. State Man (1684) ii. vii. 257 Hell is the Worlds sink, and the receptacle of all the Filth in this great frame.
1893 J. T. Bent Sacred City of Ethiopians ii. 41 Her hut is a terrible sink of filth; but she is a cheery old creature.
1938 Wicklow People 9 July 3/4 1938 9 July 3/4 From..the total absence of all regard to cleanliness or decency it had become an intolerable sink of filth.
II. A basin used for washing.
4.
a. A fixed basin made of stone, metal, or other material, designed to hold water for washing and having an outflow pipe; esp. (in later use) such a basin with a water supply.Traditionally associated with the kitchen but also used (esp. now) to denote basins in bathrooms, laundries, etc.Recorded earliest in sinkstone n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > [noun] > for fluid > sink
sink1432
sinkstone1432
water sink1798
1432 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1855) II. 23 (MED) Lego..Willelmo fratri meo unum lavacrum cum le synkestane.
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 456 Synke, for water receyvynge, exceptorium.
?c1450 in Archaeologia (1869) 42 404 (MED) In the Chaumber over the Parlor..a lede, a synke.
1566 in E. Peacock Eng. Church Furnit. (1866) 65 ij alter Stones—One Mr. Sheffield haith made a sinck of in his kitchine.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Aiguier, a sinke, or washing stone, in a kitchin.
1634 in Archaeologia 35 197 In the kitchen..A grate for the sincke.
1726 G. Leoni tr. L. B. Alberti Architecture I. 95/2 A large Kitchen..with an oven, stove, pump and sink.
1795 E. L'Hommedieu Observations on Manure (1801) 233 From the sink in the kitchen, all the dirty and dish water runs into this hole, all the soapsuds or waters in which cloaths have been washed is conveyed.
1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. i. 17 So advantageous is the unlimited use of water, and a regular sink with its drain.
1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin I. xiii. 200 Simeon..was washing his hands at a neat sink, in a little back porch.
1897 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. III. 759 Attention must be paid to the housemaid's sink.
1964 G. D. Cherescavich Textbk. for Nursing Assistants x. 93 If the patient has regained sufficient strength to be out of bed..he may go to the bathroom and bathe at the sink.
2005 New Yorker 9 May 74/1 She did not keep a very neat kitchen—dishes were mounded in the sink.
b. A sink and its contents; an amount such as would fill a sink; a sinkful (of water or other liquid).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > measurement > the scientific measurement of volume > measure(s) of capacity > amount defined by capacity > [noun] > amount that fills a receptacle > other vessels or receptacles
fontfulc1405
shellfulc1450
eggshell-fula1475
cruseful1561
mangerful1600
thimbleful1607
hornful1610
vatful1632
flask1730
fanful1807
urnful1820
watch-glassful1830
thimble1841
eyeful1853
vaseful1856
kettleful1862
sink1868
sinkful1873
troughful1877
tankful1887
teapotful1895
walletful1909
1868 W. Collins Moonstone ii, in All Year Round 11 July 97/1 A sink of water, with a basin and waste-pipe roughly let into the wall.
1978 Year Bk. (Amer. Soc. Sanitary Engin.) 56 59 He would strip down, lather himself from head to foot using one sink of water.
2012 S. V. Bodle Planet Treasure Guardians vii. 56 ‘A drop of water gave us a small result,’ Robbie assessed. ‘We need to use a sink of water.’
III. A place where material accumulates either naturally or as part of a mechanical or other process, and related uses.
†5.
a. The well of an oil lamp. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > artificial light > an artificial light > [noun] > lamp > parts of
sink1440
snuff1611
turret1626
discus1680
oxidator1853
chimney1857
flame-cap1893
heat filter1898
bracket-light-
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 456 Synke, of a lampe [1499 Pynson holdinge the risshe], mergulus.
b. Scottish Founding. A hole dug in the ground, for placing the mould when casting a cannon or piece of ordnance. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > workplace > places for working with specific materials > place for working with metal > [noun] > for founding > part of
sink1541
pattern shop1847
pattern room1856
casting-shop1871
casting-pit1884
1541 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1908) VIII. 125 Gevin to v men..making and drying of the mulde and spindill, casting of the sink.
1542 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1908) VIII. 126 Clengeing of the sink and rynnyng of the mettell.
c. The well (well n.1 8a ) of a ship. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > body of vessel > bottom or part under water > [noun] > hold > lowest part where water collects
pump1531
sink1611
pump well1749
well-room1765
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Lossec, the sinke, or well, of the pumpe of a ship.
1638 T. Heywood True Descr. Royall Ship 14 Her sinke drew no more water than one man might easily empty by a pumpe.
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 270 In the lower Deck they had a very convenient Pump; it is an Iron-Chain..that reaches down to the Sink.
1712 Philos. Trans. 1710–12 (Royal Soc.) 27 365 A stink, much like that of the Sink of a Ship.
d. A wax tube or pipe for carrying off melted wax from the model of a statue. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > modelling > [noun] > casting methods > mould > tube for carrying off wax
sink1748
1748 tr. N. A. Pluche Spectacle de la Nature VII. xxii. 267 When the Wax-work is finished, and every Part..corrected,..all these Pieces are placed again upon the Core, in order to fix in them several hollow Pipes of Wax, some of which rise from every Part of the Figure, and have all their Extremities covered with the utmost Exactness and Care; others are directed downwards and sideways. These are called the Sinks, and will carry off all the Wax to be melted out of the Model. The others are called the Spouts and the Vents.
6. Mining.
a. A vertical shaft in a mine (see shaft n.3 1). Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > workplace > places where raw materials are extracted > mine > [noun] > shaft
groovea1400
shaft1433
sink1557
mine pit1587
sinking1613
footway1778
shank1790
mine shaft1818
1557 in J. Beveridge & G. Donaldson Reg. Secreti Sigilli Regum Scotorum (1952) IV. 497/1 With power to the said Robert [tacksman of the coalpit of Linlithgow] to cast and wyn sinkis.
1672 G. Sinclair Hydrostaticks 263 If the distance B A, be supposed to be 120 fathoms alongst the Grass, or surface, then will the deepness of the Sink be six fathom, and so forth.
1739 J. Clerk in W. C. Lukis Family Mem. W. Stukeley (1883) II. 91 The sink goes down perpendicularly 80 fathoms below the sea.
1896 Daily News 14 Jan. 2/6 Have struck a rich body of ore in the sink worth 11 ounces of gold.
2011 W. K. Krueger Vermilion Drift (e-book ed.) vii. They gathered at the edge of the sink. It was a five-foot drop to the opening in the rubble.
†b. A natural cavity encountered during the excavation of a mine. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > workplace > places where raw materials are extracted > mine > [noun] > iron-mine > cavity in
sink1883
1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining 224 Sinks, natural cavities met with in iron mines.
7.
a. A low-lying area where flowing water collects and forms a marsh, pool, etc., or disappears by evaporation or percolation. In later use chiefly U.S.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > marsh, bog, or swamp > [noun]
marsheOE
fenc888
sladec893
moorOE
mossOE
marshlandlOE
lay-fena1225
lay-mirea1225
moor-fenc1275
flosha1300
strother?a1300
marish1327
carrc1330
waterlanda1382
gaseync1400
quaba1425
paludec1425
mersec1440
sumpa1450
palus?1473
wash1483
morass1489
oozea1500
bog?a1513
danka1522
fell1538
soga1552
Camarine1576
gog1583
swale1584
sink1594
haga1600
mere1609
flata1616
swamp1624
pocosin1634
frogland1651
slash1652
poldera1669
savannah1671
pond-land1686
red bog1686
swang1691
slack1719
flowa1740
wetland1743
purgatory1760
curragh1780
squall1784
marais1793
vlei1793
muskeg1806
bog-pit1820
prairie1820
fenhood1834
pakihi1851
terai1852
sponge1856
takyr1864
boglet1869
sinkhole1885
grimpen1902
sphagnum bog1911
blanket bog1939
string bog1959
1594 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. II. 13 Some excellent picture of Apelles fallen into a sinke of mire [Fr. en vn fangeux bourbier], couered and compassed about with thicke mists, and obscure darknesse.
1615 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1848) II. 323 Discendand doun the said hill..north or thairby to ane sinck at the south syde of the reisk.
1702 E. West Mem. (1865) 186 The way being full of mires, sinks, and snares.
1850 B. Taylor Eldorado (1862) xxi. 223 On the arid plains around the sink of Humboldt's River.
1949 Jrnl. Geol. (Chicago) 57 119 (title) Thaw lakes and thaw sinks in the Imuruk Lake area, Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
2006 J. G. Moore King of 40th Parallel vii. 159 Another party left the Big Bend camp heading east to investigate the alkali deserts near the sink of the Carson River.
b. the sink of ——, a flat, low-lying part of (a region), into or across which rivers flow.
ΚΠ
1753 J. Hanway Hist. Acct. Brit. Trade Caspian Sea I. xxv. 161 Ghilan is generally esteemed the sink of Persia.
1801 H. Skrine Rivers Great Brit. 68 This [sc. the flat around Howden] may be called the sink of Yorkshire, the country being deep, and occasionally sandy.
1996 E. Lord in J. Roding & L. H. van Voss North Sea & Culture i. 73 This is low lying land [sc. the Fens] that has been described as the sink of England because of the many rivers draining across it.
c. A cavity in the ground into which surface water escapes, a swallow hole; esp. one resulting from dissolution of rock (typically limestone) by water. Cf. sinkhole n. 2.lime-sink: see lime n.1 Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > low land > hole or pit > [noun] > pot-hole or swallow-hole
water sink1553
swallow1610
swallow-hole1660
estuary1665
swallet1668
cockpit1683
sinkhole1772
sink1791
pot1797
water-swallow1811
shake-hole1823
pothole1826
fleet-hole1839
spout hole1849
katavothron1869
ponor1890
sump1951
1791 W. Bartram Trav. N. & S. Carolina 174 Though the waters of these ponds in the summer and dry seasons, evidently tend towards these sinks.
1854 J. R. Bartlett Personal Narr. Explor. & Incidents I. 110 We stopped to look at some limestone sinks near the road.
1934 C. R. Longwell et al. Outl. Physical Geol. iv. 73 In some regions sinks, caverns, and solution valleys are so numerous that they give rise to a peculiar and characteristic topography.
2009 D. Kelsall & J. Kelsall Yorks. Dales: North & East 15/1 Shake holes, sinks, potholes, caves, disappearing and resurgent streams and rivers, dry valleys..are all features of this remarkable karst landscape.
†d. A well or pool of water. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > lake > pool > [noun] > well
water piteOE
wellOE
pitOE
pulkc1300
draw-wellc1410
draught-wellc1440
winchc1440
brine-well1594
salt spring1601
sump1680
pump well1699
spout-well1710
sump hole1754
pit-well1756
sink1804
bucket-well1813
artesian well1829
shallow well1877
dip-well1894
garland-well1897
village pump1925
1804 in W. Bingley North Wales 273 If this man had really seen ore in the bottom of a sink of water in a mine.
1862 Harper's Weekly 13 Sept. 586/2 We reached a spot where a black resinous sink of water crept away into the thicket under a covert of naked trees.
8. A place where things are swallowed up or lost.time sink: see first element.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > [noun] > place of destruction
sink1648
bomb-site1945
1648 J. Beaumont Psyche vi. clxx. 87 Down to the dark Mouth of a silent Cave, the sink of Discontents, of Cares the Grave.
1789 B. Rush Med. Inq. & Observ. I. xvi. 184 Dr. Rush..terms them [sc. hospitals], ‘The sinks of human life in an army,’ and says, ‘they robbed the United States of more citizens than the sword’.
1813 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1838) XI. 76 As the Secretary of State's office is a sink of papers, and these [papers] are really curious,..I shall be glad to have them again.
1907 H. Adams Educ. Henry Adams xx. 268 Such a Review may be made a sink of money with captivating ease.
1987 Match Fishing Feb. 14/3 Approach every peg as if it could be a winner, feel it out and after four hours if you haven't caught anything, then you can say that it's a sink!
9. A point in a system or medium at which energy (esp. heat and electrical energy) leaves or is removed; a device whose function is to act as such a point.In quot. 1864, used with reference to a hypothetical incompressible fluid used to mathematically model electrical current.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > energy or power of doing work > [noun] > point where energy removed from system
sink1885
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > heat > transmission of heat > [noun] > place for removal
sink1885
1864 J. C. Maxwell in Trans. Cambr. Philos. Soc. 10 32 We must conceive the fluid to be supplied by a source within that space, capable of creating and emitting unity of fluid in unity of time, and to be afterwards swallowed up by a sink capable of receiving and destroying the same amount continually.]
1885 Electrician 3 July 134/1 There will..be transfer of energy through the medium from sources to sinks of energy.
1951 Jrnl. Brit. Interplanetary Soc. 10 256 The generation of electrical power by means of a heat engine requires that the heat produced at a temperature T1 be conveyed to a ‘sink’ at a temperature T2.
2010 P. Atkins Laws of Thermodynamics: Very Short Introd. iii. 58 We see from that expression that the greatest efficiency is achieved by working with the hottest possible source and the coldest possible sink.
10. A thing or process that removes or is used to remove something from a system.See also carbon sink n. at carbon n. Compounds 3.
ΚΠ
1954 Jrnl. Geol. 62 119/1 The accumulation of carbon in coal and peat evidently represents a sink for carbon of the isotopic composition of terrestrial plants.
1966 Economist 8 Oct. 180/1 They [sc. power stations] could be used as a ‘sink’ for the gas while the distribution system is geared up to take it elsewhere.
1977 I. M. Campbell Energy & Atmosphere viii. 263 The main sink for hydroperoxy radicals in the troposphere appears, at present, to be identified as reaction with nitrogen oxides.
2015 L. Van Zwieten et al. in J. Lehmann & S. Joseph Biochar for Environmental Managem. 489/1 Soils are a major sink for CH4.
IV. Senses relating to sinking or downward movement.
†11. Something that has been sunk; (English regional) a quantity of hemp submerged in a retting-pit. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > plants, grasses, or reeds > [noun] > vegetable fibre > hemp > quantity of in pit
sink1670
1670 Lincoln Coroner's Inquest Papers (BL Add. 31028) f. 7 Drowned in a hempe pitt, neare a litle sinke of hempe.
12.
a. Dance. A lowered position achieved by bending the knees; a plié.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > movements or steps > [noun] > movement > specific movements
gambol1509
gamond?a1513
frisco?1520
brawl1521
frisk1525
friscal1570
goat's jump1589
caper1592
capriole1596
capering1598
amble1607
friscado1634
rising1694
sink1706
moulinet1785
ballon1828
toeing1871
bump1931
heel turn1933
partnering1939
grind1946
shake1946
thigh lift1949
cambré1952
1706 J. Weaver tr. R. A. Feuillet Orchesography 2 Sinkings [Fr. plié] are the bending of the Knees. Risings are when we rise from a Sink [Fr. est quand on les étend].
1735 K. Tomlinson Art of Dancing 144 The Rise or Beginning of the Step, in Dancing, from a Sink always marks Time to the Tune.
1805 F. Peacock Sketches Hist. & Theory, Pract. Dancing viii. 127 Minuet step, in like manner, has its preparatory motion, or sink, which must always be subordinate to the initial note of the music... The initial sink, according to this rule, is made previous to the first motion, which is a slide forward with the right foot.
1934 Amer. Dancer Sept. 9/1 Both knees are bent as the preparatory sink is made, then both are straightened as the kick is done.
2009 S. L. Foster Worlding Dance v. 102 A step forward with the free leg, a sink, a spring, a foot in the air, a second sink.
b. gen. An instance or act of sinking (in various senses).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > [noun] > sinking down > instance of
sit1679
sinka1718
subsidation1810
insinking1878
sinkage1882
a1718 T. Parnell Poems Several Occasions (1721) 4 The sweet confusing Blush, the secret Wink, The gentle-swimming Walk, the courteous Sink.
1818 J. Keats Let. 13 Mar. (1958) I. 240 When a poor devil is drowning, it is said he comes thrice to the surface, ere he makes his final sink.
1845 J. Nasmyth Let. 7 May in M. Faraday Corr. (1996) III. 361 I could not detect any difference in time between the sink of the pile and that of the machine following down after him.
2012 S. Trower Senses of Vibration i. 20 We progress from the gentle ‘sink and rise’ of the waves to the rapid motion of hovering, pauseless, untamed wings.
†c. figurative. A dropping or lowering of the voice. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [noun] > volume of voice (for recording) > lowering of voice
descent1581
sink1786
decrescendo1806
1786 A. M. Bennett Juvenile Indiscretions III. 189 Their ignorance of the subject of the whispering dialogue..was..owing..to a soft sink in the voice of both Henry and Clara.
†13. Mining. A small vein of soft material (e.g. clay) set in hard rock and sinking down; = chun n.1 1. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > mineral deposits > features of stratum or vein > [noun] > soft material
vees1672
chun1747
sink1747
1747 W. Hooson Miners Dict. sig. S4v A Sink, it is the same thing with a Chun.
†14. U.S. A partly submersible boat used in wildfowl shooting; = sink boat n. at Compounds 2. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessels with other specific uses > [noun] > vessel used for wildfowl shooting
sink1793
mudboat1824
sink boat1850
sneak-boat1850
sink-box1864
sneak-box1879
1793 T. B. Hazard Diary 15 Mar. in C. Hazard Nailer Tom's Diary (1930) 148/2 I workt in the Shop. John Congdon workt on Skif. I went to the old mill after aboard for Sink.
1855 E. J. Lewis Amer. Sportsman xxiii. 268 It is better..to have two or more double-barrelled guns in the Sink.
1874 J. W. Long Amer. Wild-fowl Shooting xxv. 252 When done with, the brush may be thrown off, and the labor of towing about the ‘sink’ avoided.
1905 Recreation Nov. 393/2 The opening of the shooting season may find blinds and sink boats scattered over an area of fully twenty-five square miles... The boatmen go after the sink and blind hunters to take them to clubs and hotels.
15. Theatre. A part of the stage which may be lowered below, and returned to, the level of the main stage by means of machinery. Also: the cavity into which this part of the stage may be lowered. Cf. sinking stage n. at sinking adj. Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > a theatre > stage > [noun] > sink and rise part
sink1840
sinking stage1841
1840 A. Bunn Stage III. viii. 280 The scenery..described, in the glowing language of the stage, under the head of flats, wings, side-pieces, borders, sinks, flies, &c.., has been painted..by a Stanfield and Grieve.
1859 G. A. Sala Twice round Clock (1861) 255 The scene-shifters..seeing..the traps greased, and all the ‘sinks’ and ‘flies’, ropes and pullies,..in due working order.
1922 Amer. Architect & Archit. Rev. 8 Nov. 398/1 Sets were mounted either in the flies above the proscenium opening or in the ‘sink’ 20 or 30 feet below the stage level.
1945 M. P. Robinson College Theatres of Tomorrow (Ph.D. thesis, Univ. Wisconsin, Madison) 177 As to the space under the stage, the cellar or ‘sink’, it is best left clear.
16. A lead weight used in fishing; = sinker n.1 5a. Now somewhat rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > weight > [noun]
plumbc1450
plummet1577
leada1609
sinker1785
swan-shot1856
sinkstone1857
net sinker1865
net-weight1865
sink1865
bullet1867
block-shot1883
shotting1979
1865 Pall Mall Gaz. 17 Aug. 11/1 You want..nothing else but a good rod, with..a lead sink, and an inch of mackerel by way of bait.
1882 Harper's Round Table 2 May 427/2 I had a rod which was not worth much more than fifty cents, the line and lead, sink and hook, included.
1979 Jrnl. Nat. Hist. Mus. (Kathmandu) 3 124 The loop..sinks down about 1m below the water surface due to the weight of the sink (lead ball or coil).
17. A depression or hollow; esp. one made in a flat surface.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > unevenness > condition or fact of receding > [noun] > action of making indentation > an indentation on a surface
hollowc897
printa1387
impression1398
puncha1430
dent1565
dint1590
dinge1611
doke1615
impressurea1616
depressure1626
depression1665
dawk1678
swage1680
indent1690
sinking1712
dunkle1788
indenture1793
delve1811
subsidation1838
indention1839
recess1839
indentation1847
incavation1852
deepening1859
sink1875
malleation1881
ding1922
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. III. 2616/2 Trap,..2. A sink or depression in a sewer-pipe to prevent passage of air.
1884 F. J. Britten Watch & Clockmakers' Handbk. (new ed.) 94 For making square sinks to receive screw heads and the like, a pin drill is used.
1885 C. G. W. Lock Workshop Receipts 4th Ser. 215/2 [In electrotyping] any depressions or ‘sinks’ must be marked with a pair of callipers.
1956 All Eng. Law Rep. 2 70 The normal method of unloading such a cargo was to make a ‘sink’, i.e., to remove four to seven layers of bags from the centre and level off the cargo to the bottom of the sink; then to make a further sink and level off again.
1973 J. G. Tweeddale Materials Technol. II. ii. 23 Should a draw form near to a surface, the outer wall may collapse inwards, under the contraction suction, to leave a surface depression called a sink.
18. Aeronautics. Loss of altitude, esp. in gliding flight. Also: the rate of this.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > air or space travel > specific movements or positions of aircraft > aerodynamic forces and concepts > [noun] > sink rate
sink1943
sink rate1955
1943 T. Horsley Find, Fix & Strike 21 Both pilots throttled back..and used just sufficient engine to give them a rate of sink of 250 feet a minute.
1962 R. C. S. Allen Theory of Flight for Glider Pilots iv. 28 When the power is a minimum, the sink is a minimum.
2002 J. A. Eichenberger Handling In-flight Emergencies (ed. 2) ii. 27 Probably the best compromise is a bank angle of 45... Much steeper than 45 will increase the sink rate and the stall speed too much.

Phrases

†P1. the sink(s) of the body: the organs of digestion and excretion. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > digestive or excretive organs > [noun]
the sink(s) of the body1615
alimentary canal1730
alimentary tract1798
enteron1839
alimentary1851
foodway1904
1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια 64 For they that dissect dead bodies, doe first open the lower region, which because it is the sinke of the body, will soonest bee corrupted vnlesse the parts therein contayned be taken away.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) i. i. 120 The Cormorant belly.., Who is the sinke a th'body. View more context for this quotation
1691 J. Ray Wisdom of God 158 It is also observable that the Sinks of the Body are removed as far from the Nose and Eyes as may be.
1742 J. Martyn tr. W. Harris Treat. Acute Dis. Infants 224 The Malignity of the Venereal Poison, lurking within, being thus diminished, and carried off thro' the Sink of the Body.
P2. a mind like a sink: see mind n.1 19m.

Compounds

C1. As a modifier. Designating a school or community in a socially deprived area; (also) designating any group regarded as typical of this demographic. Cf. sink estate n. at Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > town as opposed to country > town or city > part of town or city > [adjective] > inferior, unsightly, or disreputable part
backc1450
blighted1938
skid row1948
sink1967
1967 Financial Times 28 July 24/3 The story of a raw young teacher's experiences in a New York ‘sink’ school.
1972 Daily Mail 4 Oct. 25/3 The downward spiral of decline in the ‘sink’ areas could be broken if the school led the way.
1981 Observer 8 Feb. 29/4 None of its problems has reduced Callow to a ‘sink’ school: it has great achievements, including children in its first sixth form about to depart bright-eyed and bushy-tailed to university.
1985 Times Educ. Suppl. 19 July 20/5 The number of groups in which pupils could be placed would be increased and behavioural problems would be spread among them rather than concentrated in a ‘sink’ group.
C2.
sink bench n. now chiefly New Zealand (originally) a surface in a kitchen intended for or equipped with a sink; (now) a kitchen unit comprising a sink and draining board; = sink unit n.
ΚΠ
1859 Narragansett (Rhode Island) Weekly 25 Aug. The principal [lightning] bolt shivered the rafters..until..precipitating the water-pail and some crockery from the sink bench, and then passing out and into the ground.
1984 J. Frame Angel at my Table (1987) ii. 16 The cottage was like a large doll's house, with a tiny scullery with sink-bench just inside the back door.
2018 N. Z. Herald (Nexis) 2 June (Property section) He extended the opposite side of the kitchen where the sink bench looks out to the garden.
sink boat n. U.S. (now rare) a type of oblong boat used in wildfowl shooting, which becomes submerged to water level and serves to conceal the hunter; = sense 14.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessels with other specific uses > [noun] > vessel used for wildfowl shooting
sink1793
mudboat1824
sink boat1850
sneak-boat1850
sink-box1864
sneak-box1879
1850 Laws Gen. Assembly Maryland c. 305 §1 If any person or persons shall use any..sink boats,..he or they shall be subject to a fine.
1912 D. H. Hayne Man. Rule of Road at Sea (ed. 2) 59 Vessels which are moved only by the tide or current, such as rafts, sink boats, flat boats, and the like, must be avoided by a steamer or sailing vessel.
1999 J. Shewey Wingshooter's Guide Oregon 82 Without the benefit of a sinkboat, which are rarely seen these days, set up large species-specific decoy spreads along likely flight paths.
sink-box n. U.S. (now rare) a hide partially buried in sand or submerged in water, which serves to conceal a hunter of wildfowl; (also) = sink boat n.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessels with other specific uses > [noun] > vessel used for wildfowl shooting
sink1793
mudboat1824
sink boat1850
sneak-boat1850
sink-box1864
sneak-box1879
1864 H. P. Batcheler Jonathan at Home viii. 162 They make use of sink boxes... This ingenious contrivance is a sort of punt, sharp at each end, and so constructed that it sinks in the water nearly to its level, and hides its occupant from his victims.
1874 J. W. Long Amer. Wild-fowl Shooting xxv. 252 The usual method of taking canvas-back in the West is by the aid of decoys, shooting..from a sink-box.
2003 C. J. Sullivan Waterfowling on Chesapeake 1819–1936 44 The sinkbox was designed for one purpose—to assist hunters in killing ducks—and its success was unprecedented.
† sink-cleansing n. Obsolete the cleansing of drains or cesspools.
ΚΠ
a1661 B. Holyday tr. Juvenal Satyres (1673) 37 Such can turn black to white; hire temples, ports, Rivers, sink-cleansing [L. siccandam eluviem], bus'ness of all sorts, And gain by't.
1890 Med. Rep. (China: Imperial Maritime Customs) No. 34. 19 The routine of garbage and night-soil removal, sink-cleansing and drain-flushing has been carried out efficiently in the parts of the settlements frequented by foreigners.
† sink dirt n. Obsolete dirt deposited in a drain or gulley.
ΚΠ
1653 R. Carpenter Anabaptist Washt xcvi. 348 He does bepope me, and bedash me with the Sink-Dirt of Rome.
?1746 ‘T. Bobbin’ View Lancs. Dial. 28 On while I'r deawn sum on um cobb'd so mich Sink-durt on meh, ot I'r deet wur inth' Lad, for I moot os weel o bin o'er Heeod in o Midding-puce.
1838 W. Holloway Gen. Dict. Provincialisms Sink-dirt, channel mud.
1856 Morning Chron. 27 Oct. 8/3 There was no water, but a quantity of sink dirt in the well.
sink estate n. British a housing estate in a socially deprived area.
ΚΠ
1976 New Society 18 Nov. 365/2 Somewhere, in every town that has council houses at all, there's a ‘sink’ estate—the roughest and shabbiest on the books, disproportionately tenanted by families with problems, and despised both by those who live there and the town at large.
2005 T. Hall Salaam Brick Lane vi. 128 He had grown up on one of the most notorious sink estates in Shadwell.
sink garden n. a miniature garden, comprising a group of small plants (often alpine varieties) grown in an old stone sink or similar container.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > gardening > garden > [noun] > other types of garden
grounda1500
knot-garden1519
back-garden1535
summer garden1589
spring garden1612
spring gardena1625
water gardena1626
walled gardena1631
wildernessa1644
window garden1649
botanic garden1662
Hanging Gardens1705
winter garden1736
cottage garden1765
Vauxhall1770
English garden1771
wall garden1780
chinampa1787
moat garden1826
gardenesque1832
sunk garden1835
roof garden1844
weedery1847
wild garden1852
rootery1855
beer-garden1863
Japanese garden1863
bog-garden1883
Italian garden1883
community garden1884
sink garden1894
trough garden1935
sand garden1936
Zen garden1937
hydroponicum1938
tub garden1974
rain garden1994
1894 Amer. Desert Jan. 11/2 Did you ever have a Freesia bloom in your sink garden?
1935 C. Elliott Rock Garden Plants 10 I at first intended to devote chapters to the building of rock gardens, the making of screes, to sink gardens, [etc.].
2004 Park Home & Holiday Caravan Feb. 40/2 ‘Landscape’ your sink garden with pieces of rock. You can then plant your alpines so that they look as though they are growing naturally.
sink head n. now rare a reservoir attached to or forming the top of a channel in a mould, used to continuously supply molten metal to a casting as it cools and contracts.
ΚΠ
1865 J. L. Lowry U.S. Patent 47,740 1/2 Sometimes the sink-head is two or three inches lower on the outside of the casting.
1915 Foundry 22 Nov. 147/1 It is quite common to stop pouring through the gate when the metal reaches the sink-heads, and pour the latter from the top.
2006 J. M. Walker in R. Crowson Handbk. Manuf. Engin. (ed. 2) III. 35 Hence a casting or an ingot is given a sink head large enough to supply the extra metal needed in the desired shape when frozen.
sinkhouse n. now archaic and rare a building containing a sink and used for washing and the disposal of waste water; a wash house.Quot. 1980 is from a historical novel.
ΚΠ
c1614 Description of Farm House (Brasenose Coll. Oxf. Archives) (Hurst Cal. of Munim. 11, Harrowden 32) A sinkehouse with a chamber over it.
1676 in F. W. Steer Farm & Cottage in Mid-Essex 1635—1749 (1969) 141 In the sinckhous chamber—1 featherbead, 1 flockebeade, 2 bedsteds, 1 ruge, 1 blanckote, [etc.]
1813 E. Parish Sacred Geogr. s.v. Bethesda Some will have the word Bethesda, to be the sink-house or drain, because the waters which came from the temple and the place where the victims were washed, flowed thither.
1902 Fourteenth Ann. Rep. Board of State Charities Indiana 44 The old sink house has been raised and made a two-story structure.
1980 E. Kelton Wolf & Buffalo (1986) xx. 385 You've been listening to sinkhouse rumors again.
sinkpan n. †(a) (probably) a hollow or depression in which waste water collects, a sinkhole (in quots. used figuratively) (obsolete); (b) Photography a container equipped with a drain used in the processing of film.
ΚΠ
1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. iii. 43 Rome became the very Sinckpan of all the Idolatries of the world [Fr. Rome a esté depuis l'abbregé des Idolatries du monde].
1600 J. Baxter Toile for Two-legged Foxes Epistle to Reader sig. A3 The Romans, who subduing nations, wan their superstitions, & so became the sinck-pan of Idolatries.
1949 Amer. Photogr. Mar. 195/2 (advt.) Developing trays and sink pans. Ruggedly built of high polish stainless steel for life-time wear—Flanged lips for hard usage—Easy to keep clean.
1984 Pop. Photogr. Sept. 91/1 Darkroom equipment... Econosink—from a basic stainless-steel processing sinkpan to a system complete with water-temperature controls—is offered by Leedal Inc.
sink pipe n. a pipe that conveys waste water from a sink to a drain.
ΚΠ
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §308 The sink pipe of lead would convey it to the outside.
1885 C. M. Buckton Our Dwellings, Healthy & Unhealthy 38 I must ask you to look under the sink, and observe how the sink-pipe is bent like the letter s.
2016 S. Thornton All but Normal 83 He cut the sink pipe and joined it to a new piece, cranking the pieces together with a coupler and the wrench.
sink plunger n. a device consisting of a flexible rubber cup on a long handle, used to clear a blocked basin, sink, etc., by means of suction.
ΚΠ
1912 Manitoba Morning Free Press 7 Feb. 12/1 (advt.) It is even less trouble to open a stopped-up basin or sink if you have a sink plunger at hand.
1985 D. Holloway Which? Bk. Plumbing & Central Heating (1992) i. 18/2 The common-or-garden sink plunger should be part of any plumber's tool kit.
2008 A. Turner Perfect Christmas xv. 179 If the blockage still does not move you need to use a sink plunger.
sink rate n. Aeronautics the speed with which a body loses altitude; esp. the rate at which a glider loses altitude during flight; cf. sinking speed n. at sinking n. Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > air or space travel > specific movements or positions of aircraft > aerodynamic forces and concepts > [noun] > sink rate
sink1943
sink rate1955
1955 Aircraft (Royal Aeronaut. Soc. Austral. Div.) 34 46/2 If a sailplane which with 3 FPS sink rate averages 5 FPS in thermals..should meet downdrafts exceeding the normal rate of sink of the sailplane + one FPS, wave action should be suspected.
1966 National Observer (U.S.) 21 Feb. 9/3 Attention so far has focused on the 727's ‘sink rate’, or rate of descent as it comes down from its 25,000-foot cruising altitude on an approach to landing.
1978 A. Welch Bk. of Airsports vi. 92/2 Most Para-Commander 'chutes..have a sink rate of about 13 feet per second.
2014 Sunday Tel. (Nexis) 3 Aug. (Seven Mag.) I looked over to see the incredibly high sink rate, 1,800ft per minute toward the ground.
sink-room n. U.S. a scullery; a back kitchen with a sink.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > room > room by type of use > [noun] > utility rooms > specific
still1533
stillatory?1600
still-roomc1710
scullery1753
sink-room1823
wash-kitchen1838
wash-up1869
1823 Morning Chron. 28 July (advt.) The Mansion contains..a passage leading to two servants' sleeping rooms, sink room, &c. with secondary staircase.
1869 H. B. Stowe Oldtown Folks vi. 66 The conversation was interrupted by a commotion in the back sink-room.
2005 Perspectives Vernacular Archit. 10 19/1 The addition [to the Porter Phelps Huntington House] included..a cheese room and a sink room.
sink spout n. U.S. (a) (regional) a drainpipe connected to a kitchen sink that discharges water outside a house; (hence) the drain of a kitchen sink; (b) the spout of a tap attached to a sink.In quot. 1833 in a figurative context.
ΚΠ
1833 Vermont Patriot & State Gaz. 22 Apr. The Editor of the Watchman..has been prowling about our sink-spout amongst the ‘cast off rubbish’ for the laudable purpose of..obtaining matter to enrich the columns of his interesting paper.
1909 S. Morse Househ. Discov. iii. 145/2 When the sink is coated with grease or the sink spout is stopped up, put..washing soda in a..strainer, and pour boiling water through it into the sink.
1950 Newsday 23 Feb. 35 (advt.) Modern Sink Faucet. 7½-inch Elevated Sink Spout.
1972 Christian Sci. Monitor 8 June 20/3 There was a plum tree by our sink spout.
2012 S. Calagione Extreme Brewing ii. 40 You may want to buy a bottle rinser, which is a device that attaches to most sink spouts and shoots a jet of water into the empty bottle.
sink tidy n. (a) a perforated receptacle for kitchen waste, typically placed over a sink to allow drainage; (b) a container for sponges, brushes, and other utensils, kept on a sink unit.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > clearing of refuse matter > refuse disposal > [noun] > receptacle for refuse
vat1534
voider1613
waste-paper box1836
dustbin1847
kid1847
waste-basket1850
scrap-box1858
waste-paper basket1859
garbage can1869
can1872
hell1872
scrap basket1872
sink tidy1881
tidy-betty1884
kitchen tidy1885
midden1890
wagger1903
W.P.B.1903
waste-bin1915
Sanibin1921
binette1922
G.I. can1929
trash can1929
trashbag1934
litter-bin1947
shitcan1948
pedal bin1951
trash-bin1955
litter-basket1958
midgie1965
bin1972
swing bin1972
tidy bin1972
dump bin1978
wheelie bin1984
binbag1986
1881 Girl's Own Paper 26 Feb. 347/1 She bought a sink-tidy and brush.
1958 New Scientist 9 Jan. 13/1 Polyethylene..well known in recent years for its use in the manufacture of..sink-tidies, buckets and washing-up bowls.
1981 R. Barnard Mother's Boys v. 52 She took out the sink-tidy, with the rubbish from breakfast, and slapped the contents into the dust-bin.
2011 Sunday Mail (Nexis) 2 Jan. 11 Keep your sink area clutter-free with this handy sink tidy from Lakeland.
sink-top n. and adj. (a) n. the top surface of a sink; (b) adj. (of an appliance or cooking tool) located on top of a sink.
ΚΠ
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. III. 2188/1 (caption) The sink-top is of cast-iron.
1966 Pop. Sci. Monthly Feb. 113/1 New sink-top filter unit cleans drinking water. Hook this new appliance to a faucet to remove objectionable tastes.
1984 Which? Sept. 413/1 With a sinktop chopping board you can scrape peelings straight into your waste disposal units.
2008 New Yorker 26 May 67/2 The full glass there on the white marble sink-top waiting for me.
sink trap n. A trap (trap n.1 8a) beneath a sink which retains sufficient wastewater to prevent reflux of gases from the drain.
ΚΠ
1823 M. Eaton Cook & Housekeeper's Dict. 170/1 An article known by the name of a sink trap may be had at the ironmongers, which is a cheap and simple apparatus, for carrying off the waste water and other offensive matter from sinks and drains.
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. III. 2188/2 Sink-trap,..a trap for a kitchen sink, so constructed as to allow water to pass down, but not allow reflow of air or gases.
2010 D. Borgenicht & J. Piven Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbk.: Life 80 Place a bucket under the sink trap (the ‘J’ shaped pipe under the sink), remove the trap using a plumber's wrench, clean out, and replace.
sink unit n. a kitchen unit comprising a sink and draining board, usually with cupboards below.
ΚΠ
1934 Observer 4 Mar. 33/5 (advt.) Each flat includes kitchen with refrigerator, gas stove and sink unit.
1971 R. Rendell One Across v. 45 I would have it painted throughout for you and a sink unit put in.
2006 Place in Sun May 77/2 A utility area just off the kitchen is fitted with a double stainless steel sink unit.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

† sinkn.2

Forms: late Middle English sink, late Middle English synk.
Origin: A borrowing from Latin. Etymon: Latin cinctus.
Etymology: < classical Latin cinctus girdle (see ceinte n.).
Obsolete.
A belt, a girdle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > fastenings > lace, cord, or string
lacea1382
pointc1390
sinka1425
lacingc1440
pointing ribbon1543
pointing silk1571
string1674
lacer1813
a1425 Medulla Gram. (Stonyhurst) f. 59 Semicyctorium, a sink or a lace.
c1450 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 611/9 Semicinctorium, a synk or a lace.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online December 2020).

sinkv.

Brit. /sɪŋk/, U.S. /sɪŋk/
Inflections: Past tense sank, sunk; past participle sunk;
Forms: 1. Present stem Old English sincan, Old English syncan (rare), early Middle English sinnkenn ( Ormulum), Middle English cynke, Middle English senke, Middle English sinc, Middle English synkk- (inflected form), Middle English–1600s sincke, Middle English–1600s sinke, Middle English–1600s synk, Middle English–1600s synke, Middle English– sink, late Middle English synge (perhaps transmission error), late Middle English synkynkyth (3rd singular present indicative, transmission error), 1500s synck, 1500s syncke, 1500s–1600s sinck, 1600s shincke (Irish English). 2. Past tense. a. Strong. (i). Originally 1st and 3rd singular indicative.

α. Old English (in prefixed forms)–Middle English sanc, Middle English–1600s sanck, Middle English–1600s sanke, Middle English– sank, 1500s–1600s sancke.

β. Old English sonc (in prefixed forms), Middle English–1500s sonk, Middle English–1600s sonke, 1500s soncke, 1500s–1600s soonke.

γ. late Middle English–1600s sunke, 1500s–1600s sunck, 1500s–1600s suncke, 1500s– sunk, 1600s suink (Scottish).

(ii). Plural.

α. Old English suncan (in prefixed forms), Old English suncon, Middle English sunc, Middle English sunke, Middle English sunken, Middle English sunkken, Middle English sunkyn (in a late copy).

β. Middle English sonken, Middle English sonkyn, Middle English–1500s sonke, 1500s sounke.

γ. Middle English sank, Middle English–1500s sanke.

b. Weak late Middle English syngkyt, late Middle English synked, 1500s–1600s (1800s– regional) sinked. 3. Past participle. a. Strong.

α. Old English gesuncen, Old English suncen (in prefixed forms, not ge-), Old English suncon (perhaps transmission error), early Middle English sunnkenn ( Ormulum), Middle English isonkyn, Middle English isunken, Middle English sonkken, Middle English sonkon, Middle English sonkyn, Middle English sounkyn, Middle English sownkyn, Middle English sunkin, Middle English sunkun, Middle English–1500s sunkyn, Middle English–1600s sonken, Middle English–1600s (1700s– regional, nonstandard, and archaic) sunken, 1500s–1600s suncken; also Scottish pre-1700 sonken, pre-1700 sonkin, pre-1700 sonkine, pre-1700 sonking, pre-1700 sonkyn, pre-1700 sonkyne, pre-1700 sownkin, pre-1700 sunkin, pre-1700 sunkine, pre-1700 swnkyn.

β. Middle English isonke, Middle English ysonke, Middle English–1600s sonke, Middle English–1600s sunke, 1500s soouncke, 1500s–1600s soncke, 1500s–1600s sonk, 1500s–1600s soonk, 1500s–1600s soonke, 1500s–1600s sunck, 1500s–1600s suncke, 1500s– sunk, 1600s swnk (Scottish).

γ. Scottish pre-1700 suckin, pre-1700 sukin, pre-1700 sukkin, 1800s sucken, 1800s–1900s sukken.

δ. 1800s sank.

ε. 1800s sinken (English regional).

b. Weak.

α. late Middle English synked, 1500s–1600s (1800s regional) sinked.

β. 1500s–1600s (1800s in representations of U.S. regional speech) sunked.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.
Etymology: Cognate with Middle Dutch sinken (Dutch zinken ), Old Saxon sinkan (Middle Low German sinken ), Old High German sinkan (Middle High German, German sinken ), Old Icelandic søkkva , Old Swedish siunka (Swedish sjunka ), Old Danish sjunke (Danish synke ), Gothic sigqan , further etymology uncertain; perhaps from the same Indo-European base as Armenian ankaw (with stem ank- ) he or she fell. Compare sench v., which this verb eventually superseded in causative uses (as e.g. sense 1c). In Old English a strong verb of Class III. Specific forms. Scots past participle forms without medial -n- (see Forms 3a γ. ) show influence from early Scandinavian (compare Old Icelandic sokkinn , past participle of søkkva ); compare similarly ε. forms of the past participle at drink v.1 Specific senses. In sense 4b after classical Latin mergere in this sense (see merge v.). Prefixed forms. In Old English the prefixed form gesincan (compare y- prefix) is also attested in the senses ‘to become submerged in water’ and ‘(of a weapon) to force a way into or through something’ (compare sense 6a); compare also asincan asink v., besincan besink v. (attested earlier in senses 9a, 12a).
Earlier uses of the past participle sunk following to be or alone with copula implied (especially before about 1600) may represent the perfect of the intransitive use of the verb (cf. is isonke ‘has sunk’ in quot. c1330 at sense 4a) as well as the passive of the transitive use (cf. were sonken ‘were caused to sink’ in quot. ?c1450 at sense 5a). The perfect construction, however, continued in use (eventually as an archaism) and hence there are numerous indeterminate cases, especially where the copula is absent, which are generally assigned to an intransitive sense if a closely related transitive use is lacking.
I. Senses related to physical movement.
1.
a. intransitive. To become submerged in water; to go under or to the bottom of the sea, a lake, etc.; (of a ship) to founder. Also in figurative context.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > shipwreck > suffer shipwreck [verb (intransitive)] > sink
sinkOE
adrenchc1230
perishc1350
founder1600
to go to the bottom1812
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)] > sink > in liquid
sinkOE
drench1297
drenklec1330
to go downa1475
replunge1611
submerge1652
swamp1795
to go under1820
OE (Mercian) Rushw. Gospels: Matt. xiv. 30 Cum coepisset mergi, clamauit dicens, saluum me fac, domine : þa ingon sincan cegde cwęþende hæl mec drihten.
OE Old Eng. Martyrol. (Corpus Cambr. 196) 11 Nov. (2013) 214 An scyp wæs syncende on sæ for anum myclum storme.
a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 43 Swo maniȝe litle dropes of maniȝes kennes ȝemeleastes mihten cumen in to ðe saule bote, ðat hie mihten sinken mid alle hire biȝeates.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 2287 Scipen þer sunken þer þreo & fifti scipen. feollen to grunde.
a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) l. 374 Ðe fir he [sc. the whale] feleð & doð hem sinken.
c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 359 Chese onaiþer hand Wheþer þe leuer ware Sink or stille stand.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 2903 Þai sink in þat wele Þar neuer man sank þat was o sele.
c1440 (?a1349) in G. G. Perry Relig. Pieces in Prose & Verse (1914) 108 Syn synkes ay as lede.
a1450 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) xiii. xxi An egge fleteþ in salt water and sinketh downe in fresche watere.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 718/2 Some say that a man shall synke thrise or ever he synke to the bottome.
1555 R. Eden in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde Pref. sig. aiiij His shyppes were so laden with golde that they soonke.
1575 W. Baldwin et al. Last Pt. Mirour for Magistrates (new ed.) Induct. v Sithe those..Ofte sooniste sinke, in greatest seas of care.
1641 J. Jackson True Evangelical Temper iii. 209 The other [emblem] is two pots floting on a pond,..with this word, ‘If we knock together, we sink together’.
1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 64 Leaving his other ship..to the mercy of the water, which in a moment sunk before his face.
1748 J. Lind Lett. Navy (1757) ii. 107 They were resolved to sink rather than to strike.
1772 W. Jones Poems 41 The light bark, and all the airy crew, Sunk like a mist beneath the briny dew.
1827 D. Johnson Sketches Indian Field Sports (ed. 2) 142 If she sunk, they considered her innocent.
1858 D. Lardner Hand-bk. Nat. Philos.: Hydrostatics, Pneumatics, & Heat (new ed.) 44 Glass sinks in water, but floats in quicksilver; ebony sinks in spirits of wine, but floats in water.
1958 J. Wain Contenders iii. 88 My only chance of survival, it seemed to me, lay in releasing my hold on the life-line and deliberately sinking like a stone.
1995 Stornoway Gaz. 13 July 9/6 As the ship sank these boxes were swept off the deck and floated away.
b. transitive. To submerge; to put or thrust under water.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)] > dip or plunge into liquid > cause to sink in a liquid
senchOE
asenchOE
sinkc1175
drenchc1200
adrenchc1300
drenklea1325
submerse?a1425
drownc1465
submerge1490
sommerse1632
whelm1725
whemmel1824
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 14569 Wude & feld. & dale & dun. All wass i waterr sunnkenn.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 1014 Þis watz a vengaunce violent þat voyded þise places, Þat foundered hatz so fayr a folk, and þe folde sonkken. Þer faure citees wern set, nou is a see called.
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 78 Cynkyn, mergo, submergo.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 718/2 Sythe we must nedes be taken, let us synke our letters.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccccvjv The Archebyshop, fyrste synkynge hys great Artylarie in the Rhyne,..fled awaye, to saue hym selfe.
1578 in E. Peacock Gloss. Words Manley & Corringham, Lincs. (1877) 224/1 That no man synke anie hempe..in the North more.
a1687 W. Petty Polit. Arithm. (1690) 66 I have heard Wise Men..wish that..that Island were sunk under Water.
1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports 251/2 The line is shotted so as just to sink it.
1928 Outdoor Amer. May 35/2 An Indian boy who lived close to the stream had cut poplar and birch and sunk it in the water.
1957 A. C. Clarke Deep Range xvii. 152 What a pity it was that the world's most stupendous scenery was all sunk beyond sight in the ocean depths.
2006 T. Anderson Riding Magic Carpet (2008) Gloss. 290 Duck-diving involves deliberately sinking your board, and then pushing yourself down before it resurfaces. It's not easy!
c. transitive. To cause (esp. a ship) to plunge or go down beneath the water; to send to the bottom of the sea. †Formerly also with up. Also in figurative context.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > shipwreck > cause to suffer shipwreck [verb (transitive)] > cause to sink
besinkc1200
sinka1300
whelm1558
founder1659
a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) l. 397 Ðe mereman is a meiden ilike... Sipes ȝe sinkeð & scaðe ðus werkeð.
a1400 Psalter (Vesp.) lxviii. 3 in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1896) II. 199 I come in heghnes of þe see, And þe storme it sanke me.
?1473 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Recuyell Hist. Troye (1894) II. lf. 338 Many [ships] were drowned and sonken into the see.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. liiii After long fight..they toke and sonke almost all the whole nauy of Fraunce.
1591 E. Spenser tr. J. du Bellay Visions xiii, in Complaints sig. Z The storme impetuous Sunke vp these riches..Within the gulfe of greedie Nereus.
1623 J. Bingham tr. Xenophon Hist. 126 If I take any of you vpon the Sea, I will sinke you.
a1658 J. Cleveland On Fly 14, in Wks. (1687) 'Twas bravely aim'd,..Th' hast sunk the Fable o'er and o'er.
1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. vii. 125 The largest Balls, thus discharged, would..sink down Ships..to the bottom of the Sea.
1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas I. i. xvii. 156 There is no sinking me; I always float on the surface of ill luck.
1839 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece (new ed.) III. xxvi. 429 Seven were so disabled, yet none went down, and they sank three of the Corinthians.
1884 Manch. Examiner 21 Oct. 5/4 A single well-directed shot would have sunk them because of the absence of watertight bulkheads.
1958 J. Wain Contenders ii. 38 Roper's, like any small firm..was already riding pretty low in the water; an extra burden like this could sink it.
1973 N. Monsarrat Kappillan of Malta 99 Two Italian battleships had been sunk, another wrecked and beached, and three cruisers put out of action.
2005 Concrete Wave Early Spring 48/3 The river's mouth is known for huge waves and sinking even bigger ships. One of the gnarliest pieces of coastline I've ever seen.
2.
a. intransitive. To go down under the ground; to be swallowed up by the earth. Now chiefly with beneath, into, under, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)] > sink > sink into something
sinkOE
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 298 Hi ealle ða suncon swa cuce into ðære eorðan, ofhrorene mid moldan.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3775 Alle he sunken ðe erðe wið-in, Wið wifes and childre and hines-kin.
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Tale (Ellesmere) (1875) l. 912 Somme of hem synke in to the ground.
?c1450 tr. Bk. Knight of La Tour Landry (1906) 13 God had made mani citees to sinke for the synne that thei delited hem inne.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. GGiiv Amonge other of the yuels of Sodom and Gomor, whiche sanke for synne.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iv. i. 122 Let me know. Why sinkes that Caldron? View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis vii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 413 She sinks beneath the Ground, With furious haste, and shoots the Stygian Sound.
a1771 T. Gray Statius in Mem. (1775) 9 The ponderous mass sinks in the cleaving ground.
1865 All Year Round 7 Jan. 511/1 All at once the chest sank beneath the ground with a frightful noise.
1884 M. Hunt tr. J. Grimm Househ. Tales II. 202 The castle sank into the earth again, the mountain shut to again, and no one knew where the castle had stood.
1971 J. Aiken Kingdom under Sea 93 Mokosh could not refuse him; she sank under the earth, which opened to receive her.
b. intransitive. To descend into hell. Also transitive: †to consign or send (a person) to hell (obsolete). Now only with to, into.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)] > specific into hell
sinkOE
the world > the supernatural > deity > hell > [verb (intransitive)] > descend into
sinkOE
OE Vercelli Homilies (1992) x. 202 Þær ge awirgedan sculon sincan & swincan in ðam hatan hellebrogan.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 13381 All þatt wannteþþ cristess hald All sinnkeþþ inn till helle.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 8297 Helle he scal isechen, þer he scal sinke for his swike-dome.
c1390 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 162 Ho wot ȝif monnes soule styȝe, And bestes soules synkeþ doun?
c1430 (c1370) G. Chaucer A.B.C. (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1878) l. 123 Whan I me be þynke Þat I agilt haue boþe hym & þe And þat myn soule is worþy for to synke.
c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure l. 3812 (MED) Satanase his sawle mowe synke into helle!
1508 W. Kennedy Flyting (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems W. Dunbar (1998) I. 218 Spynk, sink wyth stynk ad Tertera Termagorum.
1600 in D. H. Fleming Reg. Christian Congregation St. Andrews (1890) II. 935 He wald wish God to sinck his saule in hell if he evir had to do with Margaret Scott.
1721 T. Ken Wks. III. 219 Satan sank to his infernal Crew.
a1758 B. Grosvenor Temper of Jesus (1785) 49 It is not the murder of a brother, nor the murder of a Saviour, that can sink a penitent soul into hell.
1827 Missionary Herald at Home & Abroad 23 281/2 Oh how dreadful will it be, if any of these girls who have heard so much about God, should at last sink down to hell, never to rise again.
1883 C. H. Spurgeon Serm. 430 That dreadful shriek, that hideous moan, that horrible howl, when a whole army sank into hell at once.
1997 W. A. Davenport York Harrowing of Hell 5 At the end of the pageant Satan must sink into hell-pit and Jesus lead the procession of ransomed souls up and away.
3.
a. intransitive. Of a body of water: to fall to a lower level, go down; to subside. Also in figurative context.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)] > sink > of liquid
sinkOE
residec1595
OE Genesis A (1931) 1437 Þa fandode forðweard scipes, hwæðer sincende sæflod þa gyt wære under wolcnum.
?a1425 (?a1350) T. Castleford Chron. (1996) I. l. 20572 Þe water bifor þat swelgh and sank, It comes and rises abouen þe bank.
a1500 Theophilus (Rawl. Poet. 225) in Englische Studien (1903) 32 6 (MED) Al his wisdam & his good, Ryȝt as doth þe salte flood, It sanc doun to grounde.
1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus Flumina subsidunt, the riuers sinke.
1643 J. Swan Speculum Mundi (ed. 2) vi. 210 Burning, they [sc. under-sea fires] make the sea so to boyl as that it is a tide or high-water; but going out, the sea sinks again.
1743 R. Pococke Descr. East I. 199 That the water may have a fall from them [sc. the higher parts] to all other parts, when the Nile sinks.
1848 Spectator 10 June 567/1 From the all but universal opinion of geologists Mr. Chambers dissents; he considers that the land has not risen, but that the sea has sunk.
1859 New Amer. Cycl. VI. 194/2 The river sank to such an extent, that the natural bed of the stream became fordable.
2009 M. Maslin Global Warming: Very Short Introd. (ed. 2) vi. 110 The newly formed deep water sinks to a depth of between 2,000m and 3,500, in the ocean and flows southward down the Atlantic Ocean, as the North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW).
b. intransitive. Chiefly of the ground, floor, etc.: to subside under pressure; to give way and go down, to fall away.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > falling > fall [verb (intransitive)] > collapse
founder1489
sink1530
shrink1590
subside1678
collapse1732
blow1783
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement Table of Verbes f. ccclxiv/1 I synke in as a mans harnesse synketh by vyolence of strokes, Ie me efondre.
1563 W. Fulke Goodle Gallerye Causes Meteors iii. f. 21 When some part of the lande synketh downe, and in steade thereof aryse ryuers, lakes.
1659 R. Kilburne Topogr. Kent 166 In the morning of the 4. Aug. 1585. the ground suddenly did sink so much, in a Lane at Nottingham in this Parish, that three great Elms (the tops falling downwards) sunk out of sight.
1687 J. Spon Hist. City & State Geneva 148 The ground..being twice or thrice lifted up by the subterranean agitated vapours, hindred the Rhosne from running, and that the same ground sinking down again, by reason of its own weight, it took again its ordinary course.
1776 G. Semple Treat. Building in Water 3 The Cause of this West Side sinking more than the East Side.
1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin II. xix. 12 If the whole country would sink, and hide all this injustice,..I would willingly sink with it.
1897 T. Watts-Dunton Aylwin iv. iv The very airth under your feet seems to be a-sinkin' away.
1919 E. Shackleton South viii. 122 The ice had sunk under my weight during the months of waiting in the tent, and I had many times put snow under the bag to fill the hollow.
2001 Independent (Nexis) 5 May 12 The centrifuge, a fairground ride which spins while the floor sinks away and your face is pressed back against the wall of the centrifuge.
c. intransitive. Of a flame or fire: to die down, dwindle, burn at a lower lever; to go out. Chiefly literary.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > fire or flame > become fire [verb (intransitive)] > subside (of fire or flame)
falleOE
slakec1340
sink1611
burn low1834
flit1839
to die down1895
1611 Bible (King James) Num. xi. 2 When Moses prayed..the fire was quenched [margin] Hebr. sunke . View more context for this quotation
1619 H. Ainsworth tr. in Annot. Fourth Bk. Moses, called Numbers (xi. 2) sig. Nv/2 The people cryed out, unto Moses: and Moses prayed, unto Iehovah; and the fyre sunk downe.
a1661 B. Holyday tr. Juvenal Satyres (1673) i. 17/1 When the fire sunk, it fell towards him and encreased the flame.
1728 A. Pope Dunciad i. 205 Down sink the flames, and with a hiss expire.
1784 Gentleman's Mag. 54 15/1 The fire sunk deeper by degrees.
1827 W. Scott Chron. Canongate i A flash of intelligence seemed to revive in the invalid's eye—sunk again.
1874 Temple Bar 42 290 Minute by minute, the dying fire sinks. Minute by minute, the deathly cold creeps nearer.
1933 R. C. Hutchinson Unforgotten Prisoner (1983) ix. 293 The fire, unattended, had sunk to whispering ashes.
1990 M. Wesley Sensible Life xvii. 110 The fire..was sinking low, glowing red with only an occasional spit of blue.
d. transitive. To cause (a thing) to subside: to lower the level of (ground, water, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)] > cause to sink, settle, or subside
allayOE
sink1627
fall1789
1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. ii. 6 To sinke a Decke is to lay it lower.
1656 A. Cowley Davideis iii. 109 (note) in Poems A Monster, that one would believe should rather sink the Earth at every tread, than run over the sea with dry feet.
1712 J. James tr. A.-J. Dézallier d'Argenville Theory & Pract. Gardening 68 Rolling the Surface of it with great Cilinders..to sink and level it as much as possible.
1713 J. Addison Cato iii. i. 41 You sunk the River with repeated Draughts.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth I. xi. 135 All these beauties and benefits were destroyed in one day by an earthquake sinking the earth, and the sea overwhelming it.
1883 J. A. Wylie Over Holy Land 186 The first convulsion sunk the plain 400 feet, for the second shore-line is found 400 feet below the first. A second convulsion followed, and lowered the plain 200 feet.
1934 Times 4 Dec. 26/7 To open and raise or sink the level of any road carried over such railway.
2002 Milwaukee Mag. 27 294 Recognizing that a six-lane freeway divided its downtown from its riverfront, it [sc. Cincinnati] sunk the freeway below street grade.
4.
a. intransitive. To descend to a lower plane or level; to fall, drop, slip down; to enter in by falling. Of fish: to plunge deep, as when avoiding nets. Also in figurative context.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)]
styc825
astyc975
alightOE
to fall adownOE
hieldc1275
downcomea1300
sink?a1300
avalec1374
to go downa1375
to come downc1380
dipc1390
descenda1393
clinea1400
declinea1400
downc1400
inclinec1400
vailc1400
fallc1440
devall1477
condescendc1485
to get down1567
lower1575
dismount1579
to fall down1632
down?1701
demount1837
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)] > sink
syec888
besinkc893
asye1024
asinkc1275
sink?a1300
settlec1315
silea1400
droopc1540
recide1628
subsidate1653
squat1687
pitch1751
gravitate1823
?a1300 Fox & Wolf l. 239 in G. H. McKnight Middle Eng. Humorous Tales (1913) 35 Þe wolf gon sinke, þe vox arise.
c1300 St. Nicholas (Harl.) l. 377 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill S. Eng. Legendary (1956) 562 Þe coupe ful out of his hond, & anon to grounde sonk.
c1330 Seven Sages (Auch.) (1933) l. 79 Oþer ich am of wine dronke, Oþer þe firmament is isonke.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 2903 (MED) Mani man..þam-self can noþer faand ne feil, Bituixand þai sink in þat wele þar neuer man sank þat was o sele.
c1475 Brome Abraham & Isaac in N. Davis Non-Cycle Plays & Fragm. (1970) 47 A! Lord of Heuyn, thy grace let synke.
1563 W. Fulke Goodle Gallerye Causes Meteors iv. f. 47 Cloudes..by their heauines doe by litle and litle sinke downe, lower into ye lowest region.
1602 J. Marston Antonios Reuenge iv. iii. sig. H3 With that her head sunk down vpon her brest.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan iv. xlvi. 374 Some kind of bodies sink naturally downwards toward the Earth.
a1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1645 (1955) II. 347 This subterranean Grott..is in some places obstructed by the Earth which has sunk in.
1711 J. Addison Spectator 160 ¶6 Their Footing failed and down they sunk [from the Bridge].
1774 Crit. Rev. Nov. 335 The fins serve not only to assist the animal in progression, but in rising or sinking, in turning, or even leaping out of the water.
1831 W. Scott Count Robert viii, in Tales of my Landlord 4th Ser. III. 165 Birds, incapable of sustaining themselves, sunk down exhausted out of their native element.
1852 M. Arnold Empedocles on Etna, & Other Poems ii. 73 He lets his lax right hand..Sink upon his mighty knees.
1866 Rep. Commissioners Sea Fisheries U.K. II. 603/1 in Parl. Papers XVIII. 1 Do the fish sink when they find the water disturbed by the nets?
1944 New Yorker 23 Sept. 19/3 The barometer sank before our very eyes.
1945 A. Thirkell What did it Mean? 200 Got through..till the moment for the song came, when his courage sank to his boots (or rather shoes).
1965 Special Publ. No. 6 (Internat. Comm. Northwest Atlantic Fisheries) 277 The [whiting] shoals rose in the water at dusk and then the fish dispersed to spread... At dawn the fish sank down and reformed small shoals which went down to, or on to, the sea-bed.
2005 D. S. Terry Down the Bay 127 He had intentionally sunk down with the trap, with knees bent, to ease the blow of its weight on his back and legs.
b. intransitive. Of the sun or moon: (from an earthly perspective) to descend in the sky; to approach or pass beneath the horizon. Hence also of the day: to draw towards sunset; to come to a close. Chiefly literary.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > sun > solar movement > move [verb (intransitive)] > set
nipeeOE
grindc1050
to go to gladec1200
settlea1375
fall?c1400
shaftc1400
rebash1481
to go to1584
sinka1586
welk1590
wave1592
verge1610
sit1621
western1858
the world > the universe > planet > primary planet > moon > movement of moon > [verb (intransitive)] > set
sinka1586
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) i. xix. sig. N2 The Sunne already sanke Beyond our worlde.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) v. iii. 60 O setting Sunne: As in thy red Rayes thou doest sinke to night [etc.] . View more context for this quotation
1638 J. Milton Lycidas in Obsequies 25 in Justa Edouardo King So sinks the day-starre in the Ocean bed.
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho I. i. 43 Sweeter still, when the sun sinks to rest.
1801 R. Southey Thalaba II. xi. 294 The Moon is sunk, a dusky grey Spreads o'er the Eastern sky.
a1822 P. B. Shelley Ginevra in Posthumous Poems (1824) 232 The day sinks fast, the sun is set, And in the lighted hall the guests are met.
1934 C. Nordhoff & J. N. Hall Men against Sea iv. 7 The moon, sinking toward the west, cast a cold, serene light on the roaring sea.
2005 Northern Territory News (Austral.) 13 July 14/1 The setting sun sinks in perfect alignment with the east-west streets of Manhattan.
c. intransitive. Of the eye, gaze, etc.: to glance or look downwards; to droop.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > see [verb (intransitive)] > look down > of eyes
sink1803
1803 W. S. Landor Gebir (ed. 2) vi. 104 The fiend in triumph strikes the vaulted roof, The uplifted eye sinks from his lurid shade.
1861 L. Stephen tr. H. A. Berlepsch Alps (2013) 220 Further again to the right, the eye sinks to the shining levels of the Lake of Thun.
1943 Rover 1 371 The bold eye sunk under that calm look.
2018 L. Wilkinson Boundless Sublime 82 Val's gaze sank back down to his quinoa.
5.
a. transitive. To cause (a thing or person) to descend to a lower plane or level; to make fall; to force, press, or weigh down in any way. Also in figurative context.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)]
besench971
avalec1314
sinka1325
lighta1400
to get downa1450
abasec1450
descenda1475
base1489
fall1595
slopea1616
dimit1628
demit1646
send1657
down1852
dip1879
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1108 Siðen loth wente ut of hine, Brende it ðhunder, sanc it erðe-dine.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. l. 11990 Ilk a tyme þat I him se, I wild be sonken for I ne may fle.
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Franklin's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 365 Pray hire to synken euery Rok adown In to hir owene dirke Regioun Vnder the ground.
?c1450 tr. Bk. Knight of La Tour Landry (1906) 71 Thus the .viij. Citeez were sonken and brent.
a1525 G. Myll Spectakle of Luf in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1923) I. 279 To Tebes quhar he was devorit and sonkyn in the erd.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) ii. i. 206 Doth it not then our eye-lids sinke ? View more context for this quotation
1670 in W. Mure Select. Family Papers Caldwell (1854) I. 140 The dead weight of his brethrein..sunk him into his grave.
1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. iv. 71 Keep the Iron in this posture without either mounting or sinking its ends.
1712 J. James tr. A.-J. Dézallier d'Argenville Theory & Pract. Gardening 65 The Rain forcing down the Earth, and sinking the Seed.
1788 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 78 44 The blast from an air-gun was repeatedly thrown on the bulb of a thermometer, and it uniformly sunk it about two degrees.
1815 W. Scott Lord of Isles v. xxx. 212 He raised the page, where on the plain His fear had sunk him with the slain.
1833 Penny Cycl. I. 66/1 Air-vessels, by means of which the animals can raise or sink themselves in the water.
1889 J. J. Welch Text Bk. Naval Archit. i. 11 Finding the weight necessary to sink the ship one inch from the assigned water line.
1907 J. M. Synge Playboy of Western World iii. 70 We sunk her bones at noonday in her narrow grave.
1926 Printed Salesmanship Jan. 466/1 If a heading is to be at the top of a page, sink it to gain white space.
1977 Organic Gardening & Farming Jan. 163/1 If pans are used, sink them up to their rims in soil.
2015 E. De Mariaffi Devil You Know iv. 46 I..sank my hands deep into my pockets for the walk to the streetcar.
b. transitive. To allow to fall; to bring downwards (a part of the body, a held object, etc.) .
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)] > lower or let down > specifically a part of the body
subjugate1611
couch1616
sink1627
1627 T. Kellie Pallas Armata 467 Sinke your musquet, and vnshoulder your musquet.
1680 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. xii. 213 Then sink your Right hand somewhat below the Level of the Rest.
1747 B. Franklin Let. 28 July in Papers (1961) III. 159 A small Cork Ball suspended by a dry Silk Thread held in your Hand..will first be attracted and then repell'd... Sink your Hand, that the Ball may be brought towards the Bottom of the Bottle.
1829 W. Scott Anne of Geierstein I. vi. 156 The two combatants sunk the points of their swords.
1831 W. Scott Count Robert iii, in Tales of my Landlord 4th Ser. I. 74 Each sentinel sunk his weapon.
1850 Ld. Tennyson In Memoriam lxvi. 93 When in the down I sink my head, Sleep, Death's twin-brother, times my breath. View more context for this quotation
1935 G. D. Gribble tr. I. Seidel Wish Child iii. iii. 354 She had to sink her face in her hands to hide her tears.
1986 M. Hartnett tr. N. Ní Dhomhnaill Sel. Poems 22 I sank my head in her sea-weed hair and bitter waves of sea bruised and battered me.
†c. transitive. To send down from a higher plane or level; to lower. Also with down. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)] > lower or let down
abeyOE
fellOE
to let down1154
lowc1330
vailc1330
revalec1475
to let fallc1500
bate1530
stoop1530
down1595
fall1595
embase1605
dismount1609
lower1626
sink1632
prostratea1718
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. v. 229 We found this auncient Well so wondrous deepe, that scarcely all our ropes could sinke our bucket in the water.
1648 R. Herrick Hesperides sig. Ov A Spinners circle is bespread, With Cob-web-curtains: from the roof So neatly sunck [etc.].
1663 B. Gerbier Counsel to Builders 33 A compleat form..which the Grecians and Romans have found to be a Dimension sunk down from above.
1852 C. Tomlinson Cycl. Useful Arts (1854) I. 168/1 The bore-hole is apt to become crooked, so that it is often impossible to sink the pipes required to protect the hole.
6.
a. intransitive. Of a sharp weapon or object: to force a way into or through something, to penetrate. With into, through, or adverb complement.In quot. OE showing Old English prefixed gesincan in similar use.In quot. a1400 of the blow made with such a weapon.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming in > go or come in [verb (intransitive)] > penetrate
wade993
smitec1275
reachc1300
piercea1325
sinkc1330
enterc1350
soundc1374
thirl1398
racea1420
takea1425
penetrate1530
penetre?1533
ransack1562
strike1569
thread1670
raze1677
perforate1769
spit1850
riddle1856
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > cut of sharp weapon > strike with sharp weapon [verb (intransitive)] > of weapon: penetrate
runc1330
sinkc1330
seize1590
OE Guthlac B 1142 Com se seofeða dæg ældum ondweard, þæs þe him in gesonc, hat, heortan neah, hildescurun [read hildescurum] flacor flanþracu.]
c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) l. 5310 Wawain on þe helme him smot (Þe ax sank depe God it wot).
a1400 (?c1300) Bevis of Hampton (Egerton) l. 4313 + 157 Hit [sc. a stroke] sanke þrouȝ helm and basnette.
1611 Bible (King James) 1 Sam. xvii. 49 The stone sunke into his forehead. View more context for this quotation
1697 R. Blackmore King Arthur x. 282 The Steel..thro' his Shield and Thigh its passage made; Whence deep it sunk Within the Courser's Chest.
1822 R. H. Dana Idle Man 2 151 He pressed his eyes close with one hand, and the knife sunk to the handle.
1873 K.D. Beste in tr. F. M. Philpin de Rivières May Chaplet 164 No angel came to comfort thee, But in thy soul more piercingly The two-edged sword sank deep.
1934 Collier's 1 Dec. 17/3 The nail sank into the hardwood top of the bar till it was almost flush.
2016 S. Croman Rebel in Storm xxi. 213 Arana lashed out, and Darcasta cried out as a dagger sank into her side.
b. transitive. To thrust or force (something sharp) into (also in) a solid object or body.
ΚΠ
1811 J. C. Saunders & J. R. Farre in J. C. Saunders Treat. Dis. Eye vi. 142 He gently sinks the needle into the body of the lens.
1834 W. S. W. Ruschenberger Three Years in Pacific 417 Directly the fish blowed close to us, and I took an iron and sunk it into her.
1891 Cent. Mag. Dec. 286/1 ‘Well,’ said Uncle Billy, sinking his knife deep into the soft pine bark.
1933 Boys' Life Sept. 44/2 It [sc. a rattlesnake] turns to bite at the stick, but sinks its fangs in its own body.
2009 Sunday Territorian (Austral.) (Nexis) 31 May (Sunday World section) 11 Horrified witnesses described how..[a man]..suddenly ran out at the boy and sank the cleaver into his head.
7. transitive. To lower (ground, etc.) by excavation; spec. to excavate (a well or mine shaft) by digging vertically downwards; to bore. Also intransitive: to dig downwards for minerals, water, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > earth-moving, etc. > [verb (intransitive)] > dig or excavate
gravea1000
delvec1000
wrootc1325
minec1330
gruba1350
sinkc1358
undermine1382
diga1387
spit1393
to pick upc1400
holk1513
graff1532
pion1643
excavate1843
throw1843
crow1853
spade1869
society > occupation and work > industry > earth-moving, etc. > [verb (transitive)] > dig (hole, etc.)
delvec825
graveOE
sinkc1358
diga1387
holkc1400
cast1481
to dig up1551
moil1581
effodiate1612
diffode1657
to dig out1748
burrow1831
excavate1839
crow1853
c1358 in J. T. Fowler Extracts Acct. Rolls Abbey of Durham (1899) II. 561 In uno puteo de novo sinkando in campo de Fery.
?a1560 L. Digges Geom. Pract.: Pantometria (1571) i. xxxi. sig. Kj If a well bee soonke.
1585 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1882) IV. 393 The thesaurer to caus synk swa mony of the said wellis as neid is ane faddum deper.
1680 R. Boyle Sceptical Chymist (new ed.) vi They dig up iron in the fields by sinking ditches two foot deep [etc.].
1708 J. C. Compl. Collier 4 in T. Nourse Mistery of Husbandry Discover'd (ed. 3) To Sink a Pit, we must have a stock of Timber prepared.
1776 G. Semple Treat. Building in Water 42 The Men went on with their sinking that Floor.
1811 Statist. Acct. Towns & Parishes 13 Attempts have been repeatedly made to sink shafts for the purpose of obtaining the copper.
1851 Empire Sydney 30 Sept. 207/3 The kind of gold..is similar to the very fine dust found on the surface of the soil at the Turon. In no case that I saw, have the men sunk deeper than four feet.
1862 D. T. Ansted & R. G. Latham Channel Islands iv. xx. 471 Water is obtained by sinking..to the surface of the granite.
1915 A. S. Neill Dominie's Log xvi. 187 Man,..they've found coal here and they're to sink pits a' ower the countryside.
2003 New Internationalist Jan. 23/2 Farmers borrowed thousands of rupees to sink bore wells for irrigation.
8. intransitive. Of the eyes, cheeks, etc.: to grow sunken and hollow; to recede into the head in a manner characteristic of exhaustion, illness, or old age.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > position or situation > be positioned or situated [verb (intransitive)] > recede or be depressed into something
sink1372
1372 in E. Wilson Descriptive Index Lyrics John of Grimestone's Preaching Bk. (1973) 60 (MED) His faire eyne in þe heued sul senke.
?c1422 T. Hoccleve Ars Sciendi Mori l. 656 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 203 Myn yen synke eeke deepe in-to myn heed.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 718/2 As a mans eyes sinke in to his heed for thought, or sycknesse.
1662 J. Collens Something written after Manner Disc. or Dialogue betwixt Rigid Priestbiterian & Good Conscience 20 Thy withered cheeks sink into thy toothless jaws.
1755 Connoisseur 14 Mar. 40 A pair of antiquated lovers..with eyes sunk into their heads..and toothless gums, affecting to leer, smile, and languish at each other!
1849 Evergreen 6 105 The eyes sank deeper and deeper in their cavities, and deeper sank their wasted cheeks.
1934 E. Muir & W. Muir tr. H. Mann Hill of Lies v. 166 His eyes had sunk lately, sunk noticeably deeper in his jolly face.
2003 E. A. Marinello Lorenzo v. 39 She had heard the shattering news and already her cheeks sank to take on the look of the starving.
9.
a. intransitive. Of water and other liquids: to seep into or penetrate a substance, to soak through (chiefly with into, through). †Formerly also: to ooze out of something (obsolete).In quot. eOE showing besink v. in similar use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > action or process of absorbing > absorb [verb (intransitive)] > be absorbed
sinka1400
eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) i. i. 11 Nilus seo ea..sie east irnende on þæt sond & þonne besince eft on þæt sand & þær neh sie eft flowende up of þæm sande.]
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 535 In to þe see all watres sinkes.
tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) i. l. 37 The watir out of gaseyn or of myre Be not ybrought, ner out of metal synke.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xii. 116 Haue good ayll of Hely!..For and thou drynk drely, in thy poll wyll it synk.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Isa. xix. B Nilus shal synke awaye, & be dronke vp.
1595 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 v. vi. 62 Will the aspiring bloud of Lancaster Sinke into the ground.
1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 412 The continual Rains had..sunk through our Tents and cloaths.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 115 In muddy Pools, the water sinks . View more context for this quotation
1738 E. Chambers Cycl. (ed. 2) at Paper Blotting Paper, is Paper not sized, and in which therefore ink readily sinks or spreads.
1745 P. Thomas True Jrnl. Voy. South-Seas 247 This Ink is..extremely black, and..sinks when the Paper is fine.
1843 Way Promptorium Parvulorum 78 The drain..which allowed the water..to sink into the earth.
1927 A. Marshall That Island xxi. 174 The liquid sank into the thirsty ground, but when that had become saturated spread itself and ran down over the gentle slope in a sluggish stream.
1931 Geogr. Jrnl. 77 244 The water sank through the sands and decolorized them.
2007 Esquire Mar. 103/2 A unique two-pump product, it contains lemon myrtle oil that sinks into the skin to protect it from the blade.
†b. intransitive. Of paper: to cause ink to spread on application. Cf. sinking adj. 1b. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > writing > writing materials > material to write on > paper > [verb (intransitive)] > cause ink to spread or 'run' on application
sink1575
1575 [implied in: Edinb. Test. III. f. 319v in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Sinkand Sex quaris of sinkand paper. (at sinking adj. 1b)].
1582 J. Skene in Misc. Stair Soc. (1971) I. 116 The argument that the new instrument is writtin upone Frenche perchment quhilk sinkis..can haif na apperance, for it may be weill knawin that the new instrument is writtin upon Scottis parchement.
1594 H. Plat Jewell House 46 If the paper should happen to sinke, which is an especiall fault in many of our late yeere bookes.
1688 G. Miege Great French Dict. ii. sig. Ppp3/1v This Paper sinks, or blots,..ce Papier boit.
1725 N. Bailey tr. Erasmus All Familiar Colloquies 55 You write finely, but your Paper sinks. Your Paper is damp, and the Ink sinks through it.
1797 Encycl. Brit. XIII. 715/2 To hinder paper from sinking, take..rock alum, dissolve it in..water, and apply it to the paper.
c. intransitive. Of oil paints: to seep into the surface or ground to which they are applied. Hence of an oil painting: to develop dull spots on the surface where the pigments have seeped into the ground. Cf. to sink in 1 at Phrasal verbs.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > condition or preservation of paintings > [verb (intransitive)] > sink
sink1756
to sink in1758
1756 T. Bardwell Pract. Painting & Perspective made Easy 13 There must be a strong Body of Colour laid all over the Shadows, such as will not sink into the Ground.
1839 T. H. Fielding On Painting in Oil & Water Colours ii. 23 All colours in oil painting have a tendency to sink into the ground and become darker.
1899 M. Marks Cycl. Home Arts 201/2 The cotton should never be used with oil colours, as the paints ‘sink’ badly unless the canvas is sized.
1968 M. Noakes Prof. Approach to Oil Painting ii. 12 Linseed oil can be used for ‘oiling out’ when a picture shows signs of sinking... Varnish seals and protects the surface of a painting, as well as reviving any areas that have sunk.
1979 Artist Mar. 31/2 I hate the way colours sink and diminish when using pure turps.
2002 R. Shirley Oil Paintings from Your Garden 170 The restoration of the oil content to an oil painting which has ‘sunk’ or become dull.
10.
a. intransitive. Of a person or animal: to drop or fall gently down to the ground, a seat, etc., through weakness, exhaustion, or inability to stand; †to faint away (obsolete). to be sinking, to be ready to drop (with fatigue, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > become weary or exhausted [verb (intransitive)] > break down, collapse, or faint
fail?c1225
swoonc1290
languisha1325
talmc1325
sinkc1400
faintc1440
droopc1540
collapse1879
crock1893
to flake (out)1942
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)] > sink > allow oneself to drop down gradually or easily > from want of power to remain erect
sinkc1400
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > physical insensibility > unconsciousness > lose consciousness [verb (intransitive)] > faint or swoon
swotherc1000
swowa1250
swoonc1290
sweltc1330
trance1340
to fall on, in swowa1375
swapc1386
sound1393
dwelea1400
swaya1400
faintc1440
owmawt1440
swalmc1440
sweamc1440
syncopize1490
dwalm?a1513
swarf1513
swound1530
cothe1567
sweb1599
to go away1655
to die away1707
go1768
sink1769
sile1790
to pass out1915
to black out1935
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > become weary or exhausted [verb (intransitive)]
wearyc890
atirec1000
tirec1000
sowp1513
inweary1611
outwear1614
jade1627
fag1722
to knock up1771
to be sinking1782
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xviii. l. 67 Þe ded bodye..sank with þat til erthe.
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 4408 For the sorwe almost I synke.
1485 Malory's Morte Darthur (Caxton) xx. xxii. sig. ddiiv Syr Gauwayn synked doun vpon hys one syde in a swounde.
1593 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis sig. E She trembles at his tale, And..sincketh downe, still hanging by his necke. View more context for this quotation
1608 G. Chapman Trag. Duke of Byron v, in Conspiracie Duke of Byron sig. Q4 As a Sauadge Bore that..keepes of the baying hounds, Though suncke himselfe.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 118 The Victim Ox, that was for Altars prest,..Sunk of himself. View more context for this quotation
1769 H. Brooke Fool of Quality IV. xvii. 27 I reached [the house] with much difficulty, and then sunk away on the threshold.
1782 F. Burney Cecilia I. ii. iv. 225 If he gets a seat, he never offers to move, if he sees one sinking with fatigue.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian viii, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. III. 198 Jeanie sunk down on a chair, with clasped hands, and gasped in agony.
1837 P. Keith Bot. Lexicon 274 If the stem of a balsam sinks down for lack of moisture till it touches the earth.
1879 Cassell's Techn. Educator (new ed.) IV. 95/2 He was sinking with hardship, fatigue, and hunger.
1950 L. Merrick Omnibus 298 Positively I am sinking with exhaustion. Could either of you oblige me with a small sum to get a meal?
1975 R. P. Jhabvala Heat & Dust 108 She sank to her knees..and covered her face with her hands.
2008 M. Clervil Red Tape xviii. 122 My limbs fail me and I sink limp into the couch.
b. intransitive. Of a thing: to fall down, fall in ruins; to give way, collapse.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > earth or soil > soil qualities > [verb (intransitive)] > be soft or yielding
sinka1450
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > falling > fall [verb (intransitive)] > fall down or from erect position > fall in pieces or ruins
to-fallc893
fallOE
to fall downc1175
tumblea1400
sinka1450
ruin1531
to fall in1611
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)] > sink > from lack of strength or effort
sag1508
sink1843
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xviii. l. 324 (MED) Hem thowghte the paleis schold han down falle And there Sonken Into the Ottrest walle.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin ii. 31 When the werke of this toure is iij or iiij fadom of height, it may not holde, but synketh in an houre all that is wrought in iij monthis.
1609 W. Shakespeare Pericles xix. 146 Your house but for this virgin that doeth prop it, would sincke and ouerwhelme you.
1728 D. Mallett Excursion 38 Down sinks th'extensive Seat Of this fair City: down her Buildings sink, With horrible Confusion and dire Noise.
1770 O. Goldsmith Deserted Village 47 Sunk are thy bowers in shapeless ruin all.
1843 R. J. Graves Syst. Clin. Med. iii. 403 When the patient attempted to stand up or walk, he was totally unable to do either, his legs sinking under him.
1898 T. Watts-Dunton Aylwin 152 I returned to the llyn and threw myself down upon the ground, for my legs sank under me.
1927 Santa Fe Mag. Aug. 34/1 Gradually they sank and crumbled, falling in ruins to be covered with rock and sand coming down from the mountains above.
1986 H. Pálsson & P. Edwards tr. Knytlinga Saga 115 King Eirik set fire to their homes and their houses, and their halls sank in ruin.
c. intransitive. To lower oneself in a slow, fluid manner into a recumbent, seated, or kneeling posture.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)] > sink > allow oneself to drop down gradually or easily
slip1470
sink1713
subside1809
lapse1889
1713 A. Pope Ode Musick 5 The Furies sink upon their Iron Beds, And Snakes uncurl'd hang list'ning round their Heads.
1825 W. Scott Betrothed xiii, in Tales Crusaders I. 245 The hound sunk down to his couchant posture.
1831 Society 1 267 ‘Will you let me repay myself thus,’ added he, sinking into the seat beside her and taking her hand.
1932 G. Greene Stamboul Train i. 9 Mr. Opie sank with conscious luxury into his corner.
1969 M. Puzo Godfather (1972) i. vii. 111 Only the strangler stayed with the victim, sinking to his knees to follow Luca's falling body.
1993 A. Brookner Family Romance (1994) ii. 70 She sank gratefully back onto her own feather pillows and vowed never to travel again.
11. transitive. To insert or embed (a thing) beneath a surface, by scooping, hollowing, or cutting. Chiefly in passive. rare before 18th cent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > unevenness > condition or fact of receding > hollowness > make hollow [verb (transitive)] > form by hollowing out
sink?a1425
to cut out1548
void?1578
cut1634
hollow1648
to work out1774
excavate1839
tunnel1856
the world > space > place > placing or fact of being placed in (a) position > insertion or putting in > insert or put in [verb (transitive)] > in a surrounding mass > by scooping or hollowing
sink?a1425
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 130 (MED) Pannicule is hanged vp wiþ a huke; coniunctif forsoþ is not seperate ne þe huke is not synked in it.
1769 W. Falconer Transl. French Sea Terms & Phrases in Universal Dict. Marine sig. *L4 Tournant, is also a stake or post sunk into the angles of a canal, for the convenience of warping vessels up or down.
1798 Encyclopaedia 619/2 One [thermometer] was sunk in the ground, another placed just upon it, and the third suspended at three feet above it.
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 596 The holes for sinking the heads of..screws.
1834 L. Ritchie Wanderings by Seine 84 There is a stone sunk in the wall containing a sculpture in bas-relief.
1884 F. J. Britten Watch & Clockmakers' Handbk. (new ed.) 122 Hollow Fusee, a fusee in which the upper pivot is sunk into the body of the fusee.
1913 W. T. Hale Hist. Tennessee & Tennesseeans I. vii. 92 Other cabins were built near, the whole enclosed by a stockade—cedar pickets sunk firmly into the ground.
1980 J. Aiken Shadow Guests vii. 124 He did various jobs for Mr Marvell, helping him sink two posts and make a gate for the pigsty.
2012 M. Benson Emerald Forge 160 She looked up at the blank walls, at the dark windows sunk into the concrete.
12.
a. intransitive. To disappear partly or completely beneath the surface of quicksand, marshland, or other ground that is incapable of supporting one's weight. Later also in extended use: to penetrate into the yielding surface of anything. Also in figurative context.In quot. OE showing besink v. in similar use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)] > sink > sink into a soft surface
sinka1450
mush1948
OE Blickling Homilies 127 Forlet he ure drihten his þa halgan fet þær on þa eorþan besincan mannum to ecre gemynde.]
a1450 (?c1400) Comm. Pater Noster (BL Add.) in Bk. Vices & Virtues (1942) 339 (MED) For when man of his foli falles in to myre of synne, riȝtful iugement of god wole make hym synke depere.
a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) i. §1. 6 Qwik grauel, that gers him synk that standis thar on.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 718/2 Foure great peces of artillery be sonke in yonder maresse.
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 529 It is so throughly wet..with waters, that a mans foote is ready to sinke into it.
1686 tr. J. Chardin Trav. Persia 242 They sink up to the Belly in the looser snow.
1785 W. Cowper Task i. 272 We..feel at ev'ry step Our foot half sunk in hillocks green and soft.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xviii. 127 [The] snow..was yielding enough to permit the feet to sink in it a little way.
1890 ‘E. Lyall’ Hardy Norseman I. v. 95 Your feet sank into the softest of carpets.
1973 L. Hellman Pentimento 77 I sank into the mud, my feet, my ankles going in as if underground giants were pulling at them.
1987 Sci. Amer. Aug. 58/1 The sedimentary cover rock begins to sink through the salt, displacing it upward.
2013 K. Kwan Crazy Rich Asians iii. ix. 322 Astrid leapt onto the king-size bed at the Hôtel George V, sinking into the plush feathertop mattress.
b. intransitive. Of sand, snow, etc.: to be soft and yielding when trodden on; to give way under one's weight.
ΚΠ
1597 A. Hartwell tr. D. Lopes Rep. Kingdome of Congo i. i. 6 The earth is as it were crommeled like ashes..and so soft, as if ye treade on it with your foote; it will sinke like sande.
1654 A. Tuckney Θανατοκτασία 122 The rotten quagmire quakes and sinks when trod on.
1700 T. Brown Amusem. Serious & Comical ii. 13 The Ground is Hard in some Places, and Sinks in others.
1869 J. D. McCabe Paris by Sunlight & Gaslight 792 The carpet sinks under one's feet, and the cushions..are as luxurious as heart can wish.
1907 J. Burroughs Camping & Tramping with Roosevelt 74 Very soon the laugh was on me, for the treacherous snow sank beneath me, and I took a header, too.
2001 J. Boyle Galloway Street 147 The ground sinks under your feet like swampland.
13.
a. intransitive. To pass out of sight, be lost to view; esp. to become smaller with distance, to the point of disappearing beneath the horizon.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > invisibility > be or become invisible [verb (intransitive)] > vanish or disappear > pass out of sight
sink1521
submerge1629
disappear1665
dive1748
1521 in H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge 2nd balade sig. s.iii Make hym domestique Within the heuyns, in whiche that thou art sonke.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones II. v. x. 203 Caught a View of the Lovers just as they were sinking out of Sight. View more context for this quotation
1811 M. Brunton Self-control II. xxxii. 416 Behind, the blue mountains were sinking in the distance; on the left lay a coast unknown to her.
1824 J. MacCulloch Highlands & Western Isles of Scotl. II. 1 The anchor is up, the fore sheet draws, the mainsail fills, and Ben Lomond is sinking in the blue horizon.
1896 A. E. Housman Shropshire Lad xxxvii. 53 Low in the forsaken west Sank the high-reared head of Clee.
1900 R. B. Cunninghame Graham Thirteen Stories 126 The great church sank low, and the tall palm-trees seemed to grow shorter; lastly church, palms and towers, and the green fields planted with aloes, blended together and sank out of sight.
1992 J. Krasner Entangled Eye i. 58 The body contorts comically, like the pouter's crop that is inflated.., some parts ballooning to elephantine proportions, and others sinking from view.
b. transitive. Chiefly Nautical. To lose sight of (an object on the horizon) by sailing away. Now chiefly in historical fiction.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > direct or manage ship [verb (transitive)] > set a ship's course > lose sight of by sailing away
lay1574
settle1769
sink1769
to sail down1847
close1858
1769 W. Falconer Shipwreck (ed. 3) ii. 59 Sunk were the bulwarks of the friendly shore.
1810 Naval Chron. 24 313 This island was sunk from the deck.
1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast iv. 33 They were..far off.., and in a few hours we sank them in the north-east.
1888 W. C. Russell Death Ship I. 191 At dusk we had sunk the Englishman to his lower yards.
1984 P. O'Brian Far Side of World (1985) ii. 69 Matthews is certainly feigning madness and will recover his senses when we sink the land.
14. orig. Scottish.
a. transitive. To lower (a surface) by cutting away; to cut patterns or designs in (a die, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > perform general or industrial manufacturing processes [verb (transitive)] > types of shaping process
worka1325
strike1485
sink1526
print1530
cut1600
to work out1600
strain1674
scribe1679
stamp1798
slab1868
squirt1881
tablet1891
extrude1913
fabricate1926
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > vertical extent > lack of height > make low(er) [verb (transitive)] > by cutting (down)
to cut down1382
sink1526
razee1815
1526 [implied in: 1526 in Rec. Parl. Scotl. to 1707 (2007) 1526/11/74 The sayaris fe and the sy[n]karis of the irnis fee. (at sinker n.1 1)].
1587–8 in D. Masson Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1881) 1st Ser. IV. 265 James Achesoun..sinkis and makis irnes, instrumentis and matriceis, alsweill for prenting of silver as of lattoun.
1625 in R. W. Cochran-Patrick Rec. Coinage Scotl. (1876) II. 8 According as his maiesties yrnis ar now made sinkin and graven.
1679 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. ix. 157 Hew away the underside of that Board.., and so sink it to a flat superficies to comply with the first Board.
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 7 The Founder [would] not sinck the Matrices.
1763 Table of Eng. Silver & Gold Coins 21 It may justly seem strange, that for above seventeen whole years no dies should have been sunk but with the old puncheons.
1891 ‘M. Twain’ Let. 7 Nov. in Lett. to Publishers (1967) 290 The pamphlet (after sinking the plates) should not cost more than a cent and a a half apiece.
1914 R. H. Grant Manuf. Steel Balls (‘Machinery’ Ref. Bk. No. 116) i. 15 At A..is indicated the diameter D of the cutter or cherry used in sinking the die.
2007 D. Nobbs Compl. Pratt 355 Could he dolly and rough spoons and forks? Could he grind swings or sink dies? He could not.
†b. transitive. To cut or carve (a shape) into a surface; to inlay (a design); (more generally) to form (a cavity, hollow, etc.) by excision or heavy pressure. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1562–3 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 272 Ane pile and ane tursall maid for cunyeing of certane pecis of gold and silvir, the pile havand sunkin thairin foure lettris.
1632 in E. B. Jupp & W. W. Pocock Hist. Acct. Worshipful Company of Carpenters (1887) 297 Carved workes either raised or Cutt through or sunck in with the grounde taken out.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 57 On either side the Head produce an Ear, And sink a Socket for the shining Share. View more context for this quotation
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Dock Any Place in the Ouze, out of the Tide's Way, where a Ship may be haled in, and so dock herself, or sink herself a Place to lie in.
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §331 Words..were sunk into the Moorstone with the point of a pick.
1815 W. Scott Lord of Isles v. xxi. 202 See yonder oak, within whose trunk Decay a darken'd cell hath sunk.
15.
a. intransitive. Of land, etc.: to have a downward lie or slope; to slope gradually down, to dip.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > high land > slope > [verb (intransitive)] > slope downwards
fall1573
to fall away1607
sink1630
lower1734
delve1848
to ease off1880
1630 R. Norton tr. W. Camden Hist. Princesse Elizabeth iv. 160 Then there arose a most confused fight, according to the inequality of the place, rising here into little hils, and there sinking into valleyes.
1726 G. Leoni tr. L. B. Alberti Architecture II. 10/2 If the plain be smooth.., not rising or sinking on any side.
1747 Gentleman's Mag. May 208/1 His belly hangs low, being not far from the ground, as it sinks much in the middle.
1825 W. Scott Betrothed iv, in Tales Crusaders I. 62 The hill sinks downward to an extensive plain.
1867 J. H. Burton Hist. Scotl. to 1688 I. i. 22 Descending and ascending as the country sinks and swells.
1945 Country Life 7 Sept. 416 Away to the north, where the Stretton hills sink into the Shropshire Plain, is a notable group.
1972 New Mexico Jan.-Feb. 25/3 This, too, is where the Rocky Mountains sink at last into the plain, having travelled from beyond the Arctic Circle.
b. transitive. Chiefly Hunting. To move down (a slope, etc.). Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > descend [verb (transitive)]
avalea1513
descend1536
dismount1589
to fall down ——1600
sink1805
1805 Morning Post 18 Feb. He made a turn over Woldigham hills, sunk the hill to Oxted, then made a point to Godstone.
1862 C. P. Collyns Notes on Chase of Wild Red Deer 199 She now sank the bottom for Exford and crossed just above the village.
1892 Field 27 Feb. 299/1 Captain Helmes' first gorse, which he skirted, to sink the hill for the gorses above Bigbury.
1976 Shooting Times & Country Mag. 16 Dec. 38/2 Hounds..sunk the hill for Lee Wood.
16. transitive. colloquial (originally Australian and New Zealand). To consume (an alcoholic drink), esp. rapidly; = down v.1 6b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > [verb (transitive)] > drink intoxicating liquor
pulla1450
to crush a cup of wine1592
to take one's rousea1593
crack1600
whiff1609
bezzle1617
bub1654
tift1722
bibulate1767
lush1838
do1853
lower1895
nip1897
sink1899
1899 Catholic Press (Sydney) 7 Jan. 14/3 In the foc'sle are the blokes That sinks their beer like blooming soaks.
1906 N.Z. Truth 24 Nov. 5/4 He can sink a long beer with any man here, Though not given to mirthfulness showing.
1947 L. MacNeice Dark Tower 157 I'll sink a pint in The Dog Returns.
1962 L. Deighton Ipcress File ii. 19 I..sank a quick grappa.
2007 P. Barker Life Class vii. 50 You see them come off shift, it's straight across the road into the pub. They'll sink five, six pints, think nothing of it.
17. Sport.
a. transitive. Billiards, Snooker, and Pool. To pot (a ball) into any of the pockets around the edges of the table. Also: to successfully execute (a pot).In quot. 1909 with a play on sense 1c.
ΚΠ
1909 A. A. Milne in Punch 7 July 8/2 Plain was unintentionally sunk as the result of a cannon shot, and spot and red sailed into harbour.
c1950 R. McMillan All in Good Faith in Sc. People's Theatre (Assoc. Scottish Lit. Studies) (2008) 290 In the bed..Ah'm trouncin them all right an' left at the snooker; sinking the pots fae every angle. It's nae bother—in bed.
1986 Daily Sun (Brisbane) 24 Apr. 12/4 Each player shoots the cue ball at the lowest numbered ball and wins by sinking the nine ball first.
1998 Independent (Nexis) 8 Feb. (Sports section) 14 With just the colours left, Davis sank a magnificent yellow and cannoned into the green and brown.
2003 Chicago Tribune (Midwest ed.) 23 Nov. xiii. 11/3 The top female pool player in the world would then calmly wait for her turn... ‘Nice shot,’ she said as an adolescent opponent, with wispy mustache and acne, sank a gimme.
b. transitive. Golf. To hole a ball from (a putt); to hole (a ball) by putting.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > golf > play golf [verb (transitive)] > hole the ball
to hole out1857
hole1894
sink1911
ace1929
1911 Washington Post 23 July (Sporting section) 2/2 Whittemore gained the lead by sinking a putt from the edge of the green for 3.
1921 A. Kirkaldy Fifty Years of Golf 129 I was in no hurry or flurry, but just looked and sank the ball.
1955 O. B. Keeler & D. Rice Bobby Jones Story xxi. 119 Mrs. Vanderbeck did sink that putt of 25-feet,..and..Alexa did sink hers for a win.
1971 ‘D. Halliday’ Dolly & Doctor Bird xv. 215 Arrived on the green, he pursued the ball round the pin..and finally sank it at nine.
2001 Newsweek 18 June 44/1 Tiger sank his eagle putt and leapt from one down to two up.
c. transitive. Basketball. To score a goal or basket from (a shot); to score (a goal). Also occasionally intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > basketball > play basketball [verb (transitive)] > score goal from a shot
sink1920
1920 Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin) 24 Jan. (Home ed.) 6/6 Stoughton..went through more than ten minutes of the second period without sinking a shot.
1962 Sports Illustr. Bk. Basketball iv. 83 Cousy..leaped into the air and sank a left-hander that won the game.
1972 Sports Illustr. 3 Jan. 51/1 The Rainbows' John Pennebacker sank from free throws.
1993 N.Y. Times 22 Dec. b11/1 Perry sank all nine of his shots, including five 3-pointers.
18. transitive. Of a component in an electronic circuit: to draw (current) from the load (load n. 3g), as opposed to supplying it.
ΚΠ
1967 Electronics 20 Mar. 13/1 (advt.) A current sinking logic gate..draws current into its output (‘sinks’ current) when in the low state, and draws virtually no current when in the high state.
2014 A. Robinson et al. Rasberry Pi Projects viii. 181 What you are going to do for this project is not have one resistor to sink the current through but to have two.
II. Extended senses.
19.
a. intransitive. To pass or fall gradually into an inferior or undesirable state or condition; to lapse. Also occasionally: to fall from a better state.In quot. OE: to fall into sin.
ΚΠ
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 430 Hit ne gedafnað þæt man do Godes hus anre mylne gelic for lyðrum tolle; and seðe hit deð he sincað swyðe deope.
a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 39 Betere is were þunne boute laste þen syde robes ant synke into synne.
1642 D. Rogers Naaman To Rdr. sig. B4 Those that are not sunke into a prophane way, yet may be sunke from a zealous.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 55. ¶2 The Republick sunk into those two Vices.., Luxury and Avarice.
1775 S. Johnson Taxation no Tyranny 28 The constitution sunk at once into a chaos.
1839 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece (new ed.) II. 190 The nation sank into that state of utter corruption and imbecility which Xenophon..has painted.
1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede II. iv. xxxi. 312 She could better bear something quite new than sinking back into the old everyday round.
1956 B. Webb Diaries II. 61 For it seems to me that I may be sinking into the dim twilight of old age.
2016 Radio Times 4 June (South/West ed.) 31/1 Sally sank into a catatonic depression from which she would never recover.
b. intransitive. To pass into oblivion, insignificance, etc. Also: to pass from notice.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > memory > faulty recollection > recollect wrongly [verb (intransitive)] > escape the memory, be forgotten
slipa1340
to move of (also out of) mind?a1525
evanish1603
sink1603
elapse1762
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > be unimportant [verb (intransitive)] > become less important or unimportant
sink1603
to pale into insignificance1856
pale1860
1603 H. Crosse Vertues Common-wealth sig. G3 All this worldly strife was but to satisfie the hungry desire of a fewe dayes, to purchase such honour as sinkes into obliuion, leauing no happie memorie behinde of any notable vertue.
1710 J. Swift Tale of Tub (ed. 5) Apol. sig. A5v Such Treatises..which are already sunk into waste Paper and Oblivion.
1783 F. Burney Diary 6 Apr. (1842) II. 263 I..catch at the first chair in my way, and take possession of it, merely to sink from notice.
1834 T. B. Macaulay William Pitt in Ess. (1897) 302 The favourite of the people rose to supreme power, which his rival sank into insignificance.
1877 L. P. Brockett Cross & Crescent 286 The songs..are so ancient that their authors have sunk into oblivion.
1908 W. H. T. Gairdner D. M. Thornton ix. 143 There is something touching in the way they had been allowed to sink from notice and from mention.
1920 P. Smith Age of Reformation xiv. 719 The influence of personality seemed to sink into the background, and that of other influences to be preponderant.
1993 A. Perry Farriers' Lane (1995) i. 19 Godman was guilty, and it is unfortunate his sister cannot accept the fact and leave the case to sink into oblivion.
20.
a. intransitive. Of a feeling, thought, etc.: to penetrate or enter into (formerly also †to, †unto, †through) the mind, heart, etc.; to make an impression in the heart. Cf. also to sink in 1c at Phrasal verbs.In quot. 1612: (perhaps) to find acceptance.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > intense emotion > affect intensely [verb (intransitive)]
settlea1300
sinka1375
soundc1374
sticka1400
to sit at (also close to, near, nigh, next) one's hearta1425
to lie (also come, go) nearc1475
set1607
to go (also come) neara1616
penetratea1616
the world > existence and causation > existence > intrinsicality or inherence > introduction or bringing in > be infused or introduced into [verb (intransitive)]
sinka1375
redound1548
sape1571
inflow1882
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of ideation > idea, notion, or concept > come to mind, occur [verb (intransitive)] > affect
sinka1375
impense1797
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > thing heard > make sound [verb (intransitive)] > penetrate
sink?1507
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1506 Swiche sorwe sank to his hert þat miȝt he nouȝt suffre þer to be.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 25997 Sua sar þin sakes to for-thingk Þat soru thoru þin hert sink.
?c1422 T. Hoccleve Ars Sciendi Mori l. 604 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 201 In-to thyn herte let my wordes synke.
a1450 (c1375) G. Chaucer Anelida & Arcite (Tanner 346) (1878) l. 8 Hit ful depe is sonken in my mynde.
?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 44 Quhen that the sound of his saw sinkis in my eris, Than ay renewis my noy.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccvii These reasons..so sancke in the Dukes stomacke, that he promised [etc.].
1612 T. Taylor Αρχὴν Ἁπάντων: Comm. Epist. Paul to Titus iii. 3 Very fewe assent vnto the truth we teach; it hardly sinketh with men that God should become man.
1645 J. Howell Epistolæ Ho-elianæ vi. lxviii. 72 That which sinks deepest into me, is the sense I have of the common calamities of this Nation.
1740 A. Brodie Diary 114 That it may the more deeply sink in her Heart, I cause her write down her Confession, and Purpose, and Promise.
1814 P. B. Shelley Stanza written at Bracknell 1 Thy dewy looks sink in my breast.
1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin II. xix. 5 These things sink into my heart, Tom.
1937 W. Somerset Maugham Theatre iii. 32 He was not a quick thinker and needed a little time to let a notion sink into his mind.
1982 G. M. Fraser Flashman & Redskins 164 The chill of the night air sank into my bones.
†b. intransitive. To disengage or secede from a person; to draw away. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go or move away specifically of things
forgoc950
worthOE
atgoc1175
alithec1275
withdraw1297
lenda1350
withgoa1400
to go farewellc1400
voidc1400
startc1405
overdrawa1450
recedec1450
sinkc1450
remove1481
regress1552
to-gang1596
elongate1646
abscede1650
discede1650
to take a walk1871
c1450 How Good Wijf (Lamb. 853) in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 39 Þo þat ben ofte drunke, Þrift is from hem sunke.
?c1450 in Anglia (1896) 18 295 (MED) Þis drinke fastynge late hym drynke And all hys hedwerk awey xal synke.
1651 in Contemp. Hist. Affairs Irel. 1641–52 (1880) (Publ. Irish Archæol. & Celtic Soc. Vol. 27) II. i. 174 The well affected would either joine with them..or sincke from them.
c. intransitive. Of a sensation, feeling, etc.: to descend on or upon a person or place; to settle down over a district.
ΚΠ
1808 W. Scott Marmion iii. xii. 144 Silence sunk on all around.
1815 W. Scott Lord of Isles v. xv. 194 Over Carrick..Had sunk dejection's iron sleep.
1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna i. lvii. 29 With clinging charm Sinking upon their hearts.
1866 A. C. Swinburne Poems & Ballads 344 Refreshed as a bride and set free, With stars and sea-winds in her raiment, Night sinks on the sea.
1931 Evangelical Herald 26 Mar. 246/1 A delightful veil of peace seemed to be sinking down over the countryside.
1993 A. L. Kennedy Looking for Possible Dance 99 The same feeling would sink over the Factory when the pale-faced young men and women would scuff in, hoping they could get a meal.
21.
a. transitive. To immerse or plunge (a person, a person's heart or soul, etc.) deeply in a specified state. In later use in passive: to be absorbed in thought, dreams, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > earnest attention, concentration > be absorbed in [verb (intransitive)]
buryc1380
porec1387
sinka1400
withgoa1400
founce1430
resta1500
intend?1504
to busy one's brains?1532
lose1604
immerse1667
to give into ——1692
to make a study of1884
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 29037 Quat bote for-bere bath mete and drink, And saul in sulwines to sink?
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 5113 In gret myscheef and sorwe sonken Ben hertis that of loue arn dronken.
c1480 (a1400) St. Pelagia 179 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 209 I..þat has nocht anerly my-selfe sonkyne in syne vnhapely.
1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets xii. sig. B3 When I..see the braue day sunck in hidious night. View more context for this quotation
1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 262. ⁋4 No Man is so sunk in Vice and Ignorance, but [etc.].
1755 Fanny I. 212 I pittied you, I pittied Mr. Hervey, and was sunk in reverie past sensation, but of your woes.
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho IV. vii. 122 He pursued his way through the woods, sunk in deep thought.
1843 G. Borrow Bible in Spain I. vi. 116 Where, sunk in dreamy rapture, I sat during a bright sunny hour.
1854 E. W. Lane tr. Arabian Nights' Entertainm. (new ed.) 2 They..were both sunk in the deepest sleep.
1951 C. Hare Eng. Murder xvi. 207 ‘I see.’ The historian remained sunk in thought for a full minute before he spoke again.
1985 J. Winterson Oranges are not only Fruit 73 I looked at my uncle who was now sunk in the pools coupon.
2010 Daily Tel. 16 July 27/5 The family is sunk in poverty.
b. intransitive. To pass or fall gently into (also to) sleep, unconsciousness, etc. Also in extended use of a thing: to cease activity, come to a stop.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [verb (intransitive)] > go to sleep or fall asleep > sink or drift into sleep or rest
forsleepa1382
sink1719
1719 Free-thinker No. 82. 2 I have observed above Half his Hearers sunk into Slumbers.
1743 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Odes (new ed.) I. iii. iii. 29 Since the long War now sinks to Peace.
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. xi. 399 She, at length, sunk to repose.
1845 R. Browning How they brought Good News in Bells & Pomegranates No. VII: Dramatic Romances & Lyrics i. 3 The lights sank to rest, And into the midnight we galloped abreast.
1868 ‘H. Lee’ Basil Godfrey's Caprice xlvi He..seemed to sink into a doze.
1930 E. Waugh Vile Bodies 252 Oblivious to all the happy emotion pulsing near him, he sank into sleep.
1991 G. Durrell Marrying off Mother 143 The ball slowed and clicked and finally sank to rest in a numbered hole.
c. intransitive. To lapse or fall into (also in) reverie, contemplation, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > thought > continued thinking, reflection, contemplation > meditate, reflect [verb (intransitive)] > fall into reverie
sink1751
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 157 I sunk into profound Meditation, revolved the Characters of the Heroines of old.
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. ii. 41 She was soon recalled from the reverie, into which she sunk.
1831 W. Scott Count Robert vi, in Tales of my Landlord 4th Ser. I. 193 The officer at once reassumed his superiority, and the soldier sunk back..into his wonted silence and reserve.
1891 E. Peacock Narcissa Brendon I. 121 He turned away from her and sunk into reverie.
1928 Young India 23 Aug. 288/2 I sank in thought; and Voice and Ego merged and became as one.
1994 P. O'Brian Commodore (1996) x. 261 He sank into a reverie.
22.
a. transitive. To reduce (a person or thing) to ruin; to overwhelm, destroy; to defeat. Also occasionally intransitive: to bring destruction or ruin.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > overthrow or overturn
to-warpc888
overwarpeOE
fallOE
cumber1303
overthrowc1375
overturna1382
subverta1382
overwalta1400
sinka1400
to wend downa1400
tuyrec1400
reverse1402
tirvec1420
pervert?a1425
to put downa1425
cumrayc1425
downthringc1430
overthwart?a1439
thringc1480
subvertise1484
succumb1490
renverse1521
precipitate?1528
everta1538
wrake1570
ruinate1590
profligate1643
wreck1749
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) l. 8452 (MED) He was nat wurþy to be an Ermyte..þoght of womman wulde hym synke.
1600 B. Jonson Every Man out of his Humor Induct. sig. B Blacke rau'nous Ruine..Readie to sinke vs downe and couer vs. View more context for this quotation
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII ii. i. 61 If I haue a Conscience, let it sincke me,..if I be not faithfull. View more context for this quotation
1637 R. Ashley tr. V. Malvezzi Davide Perseguitato 5 The same action which at one time hath reared up a Prince, should at another sink him.
1718 M. Prior Solomon on Vanity ii, in Poems Several Occasions (new ed.) 466 I raise or sink, imprison or set free; And Life or Death depends on My Decree.
1726 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey V. xxii. 451 Fate, and their crime, have sunk them to the dust.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones V. xiv. vii. 167 Whether he will sink these Wretches down for ever, or..raise them all from the Brink of Misery and Despair. View more context for this quotation
1850 H. T. Cheever Whale & his Captors ii. 41 The king was taking huge morsels that would almost sink a common man.
1865 J. Ruskin in Pall Mall Gaz. 21 Apr. 4/1 Such another article would sink the Gazette.
1949 Capt. Marvel Adventures Sept. 91 Gulp! I'm sunk!
1984 Oxf. Mail 7 Feb. Back page Their more famous neighbours were being sunk 4-1 at Wrexham.
2005 Rip & Burn Mar. 14/2 Gladiator was the first swords-and-sandals mega-hit since Liz Taylor's money-pit Cleopatra sank the genre single-handed in 1963.
b. transitive. Used as an imprecation or oath. Cf. sink me at Phrases 2.
ΚΠ
?1628 J. Taylor Dog of War sig. B8v Who make, (God sink 'em) their discourse, Refuse, Renounce, or Dam, that's worse.
1710 S. Centlivre Bickerstaff's Burying i. i. 7 Estate! sink the Estate!
1768 O. Goldsmith Good Natur'd Man ii. 23 Sink the public, Madam, when the fair are to be attended.
1855 A. Trollope Warden iv. 58 Sink them all for parsons.
1901 R. Murray Hawick Characters 6 He refused, saying, ‘Sink it, na; ye waudna clean them for yer mother's burial, and ye'll no get them cleaned for yer wedding.’
1941 E. Mittelholzer Corentyne Thunder xviii. 100 Oh, shut up and go and sink yourself.
2019 H. Faizal We Hunt Flame lvii. 308 ‘Charming. Then you owe me that gold cuff.’ ‘Go sink yourself.’
c. intransitive. To utter the imprecation ‘sink!’; (hence more generally) to use profane language; to swear, curse. Now Scottish (Shetland). Sc. National Dict. (at cited word) records this sense as still in use in Shetland in 1970.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > malediction > [verb (intransitive)] > swear or use profanity
curse?c1225
oathc1450
swearc1450
to swear like a lord1531
profanea1643
sink1663
rip1772
cuss1838
to let out1840
explete1902
eff1943
foul-mouth1960
1663 Proposal to use no Conscience 6 We swear like Gentlemen of Rank, Curse, Damn, Sink.
1681 Arraignm.,Tryal & Condemnation S. Colledge 132 'Tis a strange sort of thing to believe..that he should fall a damning and sinking against Colledge.
1704 J. Trapp Abra-Mule Prol. 37 Fools..think All Wit and Valour is to damn and sink.
1750 H. Walpole Lett. (1846) II. 311 He has constantly been damming and sinking.
1752 Charmer: Choice Coll. Scots Songs (ed. 2) 277 Breaking windows, damning, sinking.
1886 J. J. H. Burgess Shetland Sketches 94 Grieved ta da sowl as men could be, an' sinkin' fur wis an' da whole concairn.
23.
a. transitive. To avoid mentioning or alluding to (a person or matter); to pass over in silence, conceal; also with upon indicating the person or persons spoken to. Now only: (Piquet) to not declare (a possible score) for strategic reasons. rare before 18th cent.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > refrain from uttering [verb (transitive)] > refrain from speaking about
letc1275
to let bec1275
leavea1375
sinka1400
supersede1560
reticence1833
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > descend [verb (transitive)] > sink upon or over
sink1809
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) l. 10827 (MED) Ouer lytyl fors certys he ȝyueþ Of any penaunce, or how he lyueþ, Swyche men here synne þey synke þat recche nat þer-on to þynke.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones II. vi. xi. 302 Mr. Allworthy,..out of Modesty, sunk every think [sic] that related particularly to himself. View more context for this quotation
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1772 I. 354 He sunk upon us that he was married; else we should have shewn his lady more civilities.
1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas III. viii. iii. 263 I dined at a cheap ordinary, and sunk the secretary upon my messmates.
1849 F. W. Robertson Serm. (1866) 1st Ser. xiv. 240 A certain courtly willingness to sink obnoxious truths.
1861 G. J. Whyte-Melville Market Harborough vi. 69 Too small to be put in training, he had fallen into the hands of a steeple-chasing horse-dealer, who sank his pedigree.
1885 Encycl. Brit. XIX. 116/1 Experienced players not unfrequently omit to call some small score..in order intentionally to mislead you. This manœuvre (called sinking a score) is especially resorted to [etc.].
1894 H. James Let. 25 May (1981) III. 477 My regret that K.P. Loring hadn't sunk a few names, put initials—I mean in view of the danger of accidents, some catastrophe of publicity.
1994 D. Parlett Card Games v. 47 You announce ‘equal’, sinking nine from your face value, and neither scores.
b. transitive. To abandon or give up (a thing); to cease to use; to allow to be subsumed in (also into) something else.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > non-use > refrain from using [verb (transitive)] > cease to use
leaveeOE
to lay downa1450
abuse1471
disuse1487
to leave off1570
sink1705
to put down1733
to hang up (one's sword, gun, etc.)1826
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > incorporation or inclusion > assimilation or absorption > assimilate or absorb [verb (transitive)] > cause or allow to become assimilated or absorbed
sink1776
merge1791
1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 23 He took upon him the Title of Duke of Suffolk, which had been sunk in the Family.
1776 J. Reynolds Disc. Royal Acad. (1876) vii. 407 [It] must..disqualify him for the practical part of his profession and make him sink the performer in the critic.
1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas I. iii. vii. 417 I..have not sunk the lover in the husband.
1840 F. Marryat Poor Jack iii. 14 She sunk her assumed rank.
1846 A. Barnes Notes Epist. Paul to Ephesians (new ed.) 129 For him she has left her father's home, forsaken the friends of her youth, endowed him with whatever property she may have, sunk her name in his.
1854 W. M. Thackeray Wolves & Lamb (1899) 11 When I come into the property I shall sink the name of Milliken.
1938 Belfast Tel. 1 Aug. 6/4 The daughter of Mr. Winston Churchill has sunk her name as ordinary women do into that she took at the altar when she was wedded to Mr. Duncan Sandys.
1990 Times 24 Sept. 3/1 (heading) Satirical Thatcher series sunk.
c. transitive. To omit or shorten (a letter, sound, syllable, etc.) in pronunciation. Cf. drop v. 20. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > [verb (transitive)] > lengthen or shorten > omission of vowels or syllables
elide1540
eclipse1589
sinka1771
aphetize1884
a1771 T. Gray Observ. Eng. Metre in Wks. (1814) II. 6 To sink the vowel and abridge it, as was usual, according to the necessity of their versification.
1797 J. Walker Pronouncing Dict. (ed. 2) at Yeast The vulgar do not only pronounce the diphthong long, but sink the y, and reduce the word to east.
1818 J. Walker Crit. Pronouncing Dict. & Expositor of Eng. Lang. 554/1 A shameful corruption of this word by entirely sinking the i, has reduced it to two syllables.
1866 R. Vagnolini Elements Ital. Gram. 4 Lo is used before words beginning with a vowel; but as custom has long since sunk the vowel of the article before such words, it is written thus, l'amore.
d. transitive. To deduct (the offal) when reckoning the weight of a carcass. Cf. sink adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain the weight of [verb (transitive)] > again > ascertain or allow for tare of > deduct (offal) when weighing carcass
sink1788
1788 Whitehall Evening-post 14–17 June 4/4 To sink the offal.—Beef 2s. 10d. Mutton 3s. 0d. Lamb 4s 0d. Veal 3s. 0d. Pork 3s 9d.—per stone of 8lb.
1798 Monthly Mag. Apr. 307 Mutton from 3s. 6d. to 4s. per stone of 8 lb. sinking the offal.
1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 470 A calf..weighs from 10 to 11 stones imperial, sinking the offal, as it is called in London.
1895 Times 28 Jan. 13/2 This custom of ‘sinking the offal’ is very old, and originated in the days when this part of the beast possessed comparatively little value.
1940 Irish Times 4 Jan. 2/6 Birkenhead Lambs.—For a few more lambs on offer yesterday there was a firm trade at around 11½d. per lb., sinking the offal, for the best qualities.
2013 T. L. Dodsworth Beef Production 7 It is said that the butcher ‘sinks’ the offal to pay the costs of slaughter.
e. transitive. To set aside; to leave out of consideration, overlook.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > ignore, disregard [verb (transitive)] > dismiss from consideration
to put out of ——a1250
to lay awaya1400
to set asidec1407
to lay by1439
to lay asidec1440
to let (something) walkc1450
to set apart?1473
reject1490
seclude?1531
to let go1535
to put offc1540
to set by1592
sepose1593
to think away1620
to look over ——a1640
prescind1650
seposit1657
decognize1659
inconsider1697
to set over1701
shelf1819
sink1820
shelve1847
eliminate1848
to count out1854
discounta1856
defenestrate1917
neg1987
1820 Brit. Rev. Sept. 203 Honest men, who think generally alike, may lawfully combine for effecting their object, and sink minor differences for the sake of internal union.
1860 F. W. Robinson Grandmother's Money III. vi. i. 165 He was sinking self so much, and struggling so hard towards one noble action—as if no chance lay beyond that one!
1884 Liverpool Mercury 18 Feb. 5/2 A happy knack of sinking individual opinion.
1926 T. E. Lawrence Seven Pillars (subscribers' ed.) lxxxvii. 463 They had fallen out with Zeid over war-wages the day previous, but had grandly decided to sink old scores in the crisis.
2003 K. Kumar Making of Eng. National Identity 161 Groups sink their differences in recognition of the needs of the common struggle.
24.
a. transitive. To cause (a person, the mind, spirits, etc.) to become dejected or depressed.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > make dejected [verb (transitive)]
drearya1300
discomfortc1325
batec1380
to cast downa1382
to throw downa1382
dullc1386
faintc1386
discomfita1425
discourage1436
sinkc1440
mischeera1450
discheerc1454
amatea1500
bedowa1522
damp1548
quail1548
dash1550
exanimate1552
afflict1561
dank1565
disanimate1565
sadden1565
languish1566
deject1581
dumpc1585
unheart1593
mope1596
chill1597
sour1600
disgallant1601
disheart1603
dishearten1606
fainten1620
depress1624
sullen1628
tristitiate1628
disliven1631
dampen1633
weigh1640
out-spirit1643
dispirit1647
flat1649
funeralize1654
hearta1658
disencourage1659
attrist1680
flatten1683
dismalizec1735
blue-devil1812
out-heart1845
downweigh1851
to get down1861
frigidize1868
languor1891
downcast1914
neg1987
c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure l. 3948 (MED) Was neuer oure semliche kynge so sorowfull in herte Ne þat sanke hym so sade, bot þat sighte one.
a1657 W. Bradford Hist. Plymouth Plantation in Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. (1856) 4th Ser. III. 208 It is a marvell it did not wholy discourage them, and sinck them.
1665 J. Bunyan Holy Citie (1669) 65 The Walls of the Canaanites..did even sink the Hearts of those that beheld them.
1730 W. Shenstone Ode to Health 52 Nor growing cares could sink my cheerful mind.
1782 F. Burney Cecilia II. iv. vi. 186 I hate a solo; it sinks, it depresses me intolerably.
1872 Gospel Standard 38 122 It sank my heart so low that I could not go about my lawful employment for some weeks together.
1936 A. R. White Mrs Murphy buries Hatchet xxiii. 222 If Eliza caught sight of Mrs. Murphy hilarious and triumphant, it sunk her fathoms deep in gloom.
2010 Cultural Anthropol. 25 390 We sang all night and into the next morning, the whole time threatened by nameless misfortune. The thought of another such session sinks my heart.
b. intransitive. Of the heart, spirits, etc.: to become depressed or dejected; to droop, to languish.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > be or become dejected [verb (intransitive)]
heavyOE
fallOE
droopena1225
lourc1290
droopc1330
to abate one's countenance (also cheer)a1350
dullc1374
fainta1375
languora1375
languisha1382
afflicta1393
gloppen?a1400
weary1434
appalc1450
to have one's heart in one's boots (also shoes, heels, hose, etc.)c1450
peak1580
dumpc1585
mopea1592
sink1603
bate1607
deject1644
despond1655
alamort?1705
sadden1718
dismal1780
munge1790
mug1828
to get one's tail down1853
to have (also get) the pip1881
shadow1888
to have (one's) ass in a sling1960
1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet sig. I3v O my heart sinckes Horatio, Mine eyes haue lost their sight, my tongue his vse.
1655 in E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1897) III. 221 My heart as well as pursse being quite sunck.
1773 O. Goldsmith She stoops to Conquer v. 98 My spirits are so sunk with the agitations I have suffered.
1835 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece I. ix. 350 Their spirit began to sink, and they sought advice from Delphi.
1850 Ld. Tennyson In Memoriam xx. 34 So much the vital spirits sink To see the vacant chair. View more context for this quotation
1960 W. Golding Pincher Martin 122 He remembered that he had been certain of rescue in the morning and that made his heart sink.
2017 I. Zoboi Amer. Street xvii. 179 My heart sinks when I see how Dray has hurt my dear cousin.
25.
a. intransitive. To fall to a lower level; to deteriorate, degenerate. Also with to.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > worse > [verb (intransitive)] > in quality or character
forworthc1000
wearc1275
spilla1300
defadec1325
pall?c1335
forlinec1374
sinka1500
degender1539
degener1545
degenerate1545
dwindle1598
degenerize1606
disflourish1640
deflourish1656
waste1669
tarnish1678
devolve1830
honeycomb1868
bastardize1878
slush1882
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > worse > [verb (intransitive)] > other
sinka1500
a1500 (c1380) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 467 (MED) Þanne cam þe chirche to heuene & growide in vertus heere in erþe & siþen haþ it sunkun doun.
1678 R. Cudworth True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. iv. 269 Such as are..grosly sunk and debauched in their Lives.
1763 J. Brown Diss. Poetry & Music xii. 194 Thus the musical and poetic Arts sunk along with the Roman Empire.
a1770 J. Jortin Serm. (1771) I. iii. 57 An understanding sunk beneath the capacity of a brute.
1868 J. H. Blunt Reformation Church of Eng. I. 427 Intellect as well as holiness had sunk down to a level of low mediocrity.
1894 E. Sullivan Woman 29 I don't want to see the morality of women sink to the morality of men.
1957 R. Lawler Summer of Seventeenth Doll ii. ii. 97 You just had to show him how low I'd sunk, let him see me covered in stinkin' paint.
2008 P. McKellan Claiming their Mate vii. 64 ‘I never thought you'd sink to their level.’ It was a low blow and a nasty thing to say but it worked.
b. transitive. To force to a lower level; to debase, degrade.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > degrading or debasement > degrade [verb (transitive)]
vile1297
supplanta1382
to bring lowa1387
revilea1393
gradea1400
villain1412
abject?a1439
to-gradea1440
vilifyc1450
villainy1483
disparage1496
degradea1500
deject?1521
disgraduate1528
disgress1528
regrade1534
base1538
diminute1575
lessen1579
to turn down1581
to pitch (a person) over the bar?1593
disesteem1594
degender1596
unnoble1598
disrank1599
reduce1599
couch1602
disthrone1603
displume1606
unplume1621
disnoble1622
disworth?1623
villainize1623
unglory1626
ungraduate1633
disennoble1645
vilicate1646
degraduate1649
bemean1651
deplume1651
lower1653
cheapen1654
dethrone1659
diminish1667
scoundrel1701
sink1706
demean1715
abjectate1731
unglorifya1740
unmagnify1747
undignify1768
to take the shine out of (less frequently from, U.S. off)1819
dishero1838
misdemean1843
downgrade1892
demote1919
objectify1973
1706 D. Defoe Jure Divino iii. 2 Why..the Rewards of Vertue are possess'd, By him that sinks the Man, to raise the Beast.
1779 Mirror No. 18 To sink the lower orders of men far beneath that station to which by nature they are entitled.
1884 F. Douglass Let. 3 Mar. in P. S. Foner Life & Writings Frederick Douglass (1955) IV. 117 The fundamental and everlasting objection to slavery, is not that it sinks a Negro to the condition of a brute, but that it sinks a man to that condition.
1971 J. Hoyles Waning of Renaissance xiv. 177 He wrote his hymns and spiritual songs with this public in view, sinking the language to find the lowest common denominator not only of intellectual capacity, but also of religious tradition.
26.
a. intransitive. Of an amount, value, measure, etc.: to fall low, or to nothing; to diminish, to decrease in value.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > invisibility > be or become invisible [verb (intransitive)] > vanish or disappear
formeltc893
wendOE
witea1000
aworthc1000
fleec1200
fleetc1200
withdraw1297
vanish1303
voidc1374
unkithea1400
startc1405
disappearc1425
disparishc1425
to fall awayc1443
evanish?a1475
vade1495
sinka1500
vade1530
fly1535
fadea1538
melt?1567
dispear1600
relinquish1601
foist1603
dispersea1616
to vanish (melt, etc.) into thin aira1616
dissipate1626
retire1647
evaporate1713
merge1802
illude1820
to foam off1826
dislimn1833
furl1844
to step out1844
evanesce1855
shade1880
wisp1883
to go to the winds1884
walk1898
to do a disappearing act1913
to go west1916
to do (or take) a fade1949
to phase out1970
a1500 in Anglia (1909) 32 487 Such frendship sone doth synke That from his frend fleeth in aduersite.
1655 in E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1892) II. 221 My..pursse being quite sunck.
1703 tr. S. Pufendorf Of Law of Nature & Nations v. i. 4/1 But after they had encreased and grew common, their Price sunk so low, that hardly any Thing was cheaper.
1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations I. i. xi. 239 The value [of superfluities]..sinks in times of poverty and distress. View more context for this quotation
1801 Farmer's Mag. Jan. 85 Towards the beginning of Harvest, prices sunk much.
1812 W. Scott Let. Sept. (1932) III. 154 While my trees grow and my fountain fills, my purse, in an inverse ratio, sinks to zero.
1826 D. Booth Art of Brewing (ed. 2) 1 The abstruseness and difficulty of such research..sink before the mind capable of valuing the importance of general laws.
1863 Ladies Compan. July 4/1 There is scarcely occasion to tell the result—how the shares sank, how the dividends dwindled.
1986 W. Safire in N.Y. Times Mag. 30 Mar. 10/3 If the market..drops 5 or 10 points, it drops, declines, moves down, retreats, dips, sinks or sells off, but does not plummet.
2010 Independent 26 Jan. 1/2 The price sank from 800p to as low as 60-.
b. transitive. To reduce in amount or value; to bring down (a price, value, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > decrease or reduction in quantity, amount, or degree > reduce in quantity, amount, or degree [verb (transitive)]
littleeOE
anitherOE
wanzelOE
lessc1225
slakea1300
littenc1300
aslakec1314
adminisha1325
allayc1330
settle1338
low1340
minisha1382
reprovea1382
abatea1398
rebatea1398
subtlea1398
alaskia1400
forlyten?a1400
imminish14..
lessenc1410
diminish1417
repress?a1425
assuagec1430
scarcec1440
small1440
underslakec1440
alessa1450
debate?c1450
batec1460
decreasec1470
appetisse1474
alow1494
mince1499
perswage?1504
remita1513
inless?1521
attenuate1530
weaken1530
defray1532
mitigate1532
minorate1534
narrow?1548
diminuec1550
extenuate1555
amain1578
exolve1578
base1581
dejecta1586
amoinder1588
faint1598
qualify1604
contract1605
to pull down1607
shrivel1609
to take down1610
disaugment1611
impoverish1611
shrink1628
decoct1629
persway1631
unflame1635
straiten1645
depress1647
reduce1649
detract1654
minuate1657
alloy1661
lower?1662
sinka1684
retreat1690
nip1785
to drive down1840
minify1866
to knock down1867
to damp down1869
scale1887
mute1891
clip1938
to roll back1942
to cut back1943
downscale1945
downrate1958
slim1963
downshift1972
society > trade and finance > monetary value > price > fluctuation in price > [verb (transitive)] > lower (price) > lower price of
to call down?1542
embase1577
lower?1662
sinka1684
settle1812
cheapen1833
to mark down1859
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1646 (1955) II. 473 We invited all..to a Feast, which sunk our excellent Wine considerably.
1690 Considerations concerning Ireland The same riches which he brings from them, serves to encrease the Trade here, which must necessarily sink their Rents there.
1732 A. Pope True Narr. what passed in London in J. Swift et al. Misc.: 3rd Vol. 258 It being by our greatest dealers in Stocks, thought only a Court-Artifice to sink them.
1757 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) IX. 228 Who would have sunk his own market, by telling his customers there would be plenty the next day?
1825 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 17 561/1 Every one knows that an overstock does not sink prices in proportion to its extent; that a very small one will sink them forty or fifty per cent.
2012 Deseret News (Salt Lake City) 29 June U.S. companies..are talking down investor expectations for how much they'll earn over the next several months, and that is sinking their stocks.
27.
a. intransitive. Of a person, group, etc.: to give way under (also beneath) misfortune, affliction, etc.; to be weighed down or crushed.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > be in adversity [verb (intransitive)] > fall from prosperous or thriving condition
afalleOE
wanec1000
fallOE
ebba1420
to go backward?a1425
to go down?1440
decay1483
sink?a1513
delapsea1530
reel1529
decline1530
to go backwards1562
rue1576
droop1577
ruina1600
set1607
lapse1641
to lose ground1647
to go to pigs and whistles1794
to come (also go) down in the world1819
to peg out1852
to lose hold, one's balance1877
to go under1879
toboggan1887
slip1930
to turn down1936
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > be irresolute or vacillate [verb (intransitive)] > give way or give in
benda1400
sink?a1513
to give over1530
to cry creak?1562
yield1576
to hold up1596
succumb1604
to give in1616
to hoist, lower, strike the topsaila1629
to cry cravena1634
to give up or cross the cudgels1654
incumb1656
to fall in1667
to knock under1670
to knock under board, under (the) table1692
to strike underc1730
knuckle down1735
to throw (also chuck) up the sponge1860
chuck up (the sponge)1864
to throw in one's hand1893
to sky the wipe (or towel)1907
to drop one's bundle1915
to throw (chuck, or toss) in the towel1915
to buckle up1927
a1513 W. Dunbar Flyting in Poems (1998) I. 200 For and I flyt, sum sege for schame sould sink.
1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet i. iv. 22 Vnder loues heauie birthen do I sincke . View more context for this quotation
1602 J. Marston Hist. Antonio & Mellida iv. sig. Hv Courage, sweet boy, sinke not beneath the waight Of crushing mischiefe.
1681 J. Dryden Absalom & Achitophel 26 But sinking underneath his Masters Fate: In Exile with his Godlike Prince he Mourn'd.
1737 Gentleman's Mag. Sept. 570/2 Harissa with triumphant smile..left him sinking in despair.
1847 L. Collins Hist. Sketches of Kentucky 371 Our best and bravest officers had sunk under the hardships of a service in which no glory was to be won.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. xx. 433 That France had at length made overtures to him was a sufficient proof that she felt herself spent and sinking.
2003 Marie Claire Dec. 202/3 A single mother..alone every night, with double the work and parent-load and just sinking under a ton of pressure.
†b. intransitive. To press or weigh on the heart, mind, etc. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > intense emotion > affect intensely [verb (transitive)]
thirlc1315
piercec1390
thrilla1400
strikec1475
throb1600
penetratea1616
heart-strikea1637
transfix1649
sink1771
shoot1842
1771 O. Goldsmith Hist. Eng. I. x. 337 The sense of his subjection to his own vassals, sunk deep on his mind.
1820 W. Scott Abbot I. i. 14 The thought sunk on her heart with a bitterness which resembled envy.
1858 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia II. x. iv. 628 This misadventure sank heavily on the spirits of Luiscius.
†28. transitive. Archery. To reduce the inflexibility of (a bow). Now archaic.Only recorded in glossaries between the 17th and 21st centuries. In quot. 2015 probably influenced by to sink in at Phrasal verbs.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > production and development of arms > produce or develop arms [verb (transitive)] > string a bow > other bow-making processes
nocka1425
pikea1470
sink1545
1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus ii. f. 6 I woulde desyre all bowyers to season theyr staues well, to woorke them and synke them well.
1634 G. Markham Art of Archerie vii. 58 Take your Bow into the Field, shoote in it, sinke it with dead heauy Shafts.
1875 Encycl. Brit. II. 378/2 Sinking a Bow, reducing its force.
2015 S. Ruis archerycoach.wordpress.com 13 Feb. (blog, accessed 8 Sept. 2019) If you keep your ears open you will hear old-timers talking about things like ‘sinking in’ their new bow by shooting their heaviest arrows.
29. intransitive. To go downwards in a scale of fortune, success, or relative position.
ΚΠ
1600 B. Jonson Every Man out of his Humor iv. iii. sig. Mivv It was his heauie fortunes to sinke..therefore talke no more of him. View more context for this quotation
1640 R. Brome Sparagus Garden iv. xi. sig. K2 Now for a trick to rid us of this Clowne, Or our trade sinks.
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1681 (1955) IV. 245 Lord Sunderland, being much sunke in his Estate, by Gaming.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 544 Who was sinking in his business, and began to think that of a witness would be a better trade.
1829 Sporting Mag. 24 125 The Clubs appear to be sinking.
1859 Habits Good Society iii. 143 The sight of decayed gentility..may call forth our pity..: ‘You have evidently sunken,’ we say to ourselves.
1969 Nursing Mirror & Midwives Jrnl. 10 Jan. 57/2 It is a word slowly sinking down the charts.
1989 V. S. Pritchett Chekhov xviii. 215 He had intended to be a professor—and has sunk to a minor job on the town council.
2015 M. Vaczi Soccer, Culture & Society in Spain iii. 56 We may sink to second division, where an all-Basque roster ceases to be unique.
30.
a. intransitive. To go down in estimation; to decline in value or appreciation (to).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > decrease or reduction in quantity, amount, or degree > decrease in quantity, amount, or degree [verb (intransitive)] > decline or fall off
afalleOE
swindOE
slakec1315
pairc1390
fade1398
to fall awayc1510
decline1530
to fall off1608
sink1613
recess1641
fail1819
lighten1827
1613 H. Wotton Let. 27 May in Reliquiæ Wottonianæ (1685) 419 Sir Thomas Overbury is still where he was, and as he was..The Viscount Rochester yet no way sinking in the point of Favor; which are two strange consistents.
1684 Bp. G. Burnet tr. T. More Utopia 13 The Reputation of their Wisdom would sink.
1746 P. Francis tr. Horace in P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Epistles ii. i. 58 Shall he..sink with Moderns to Contempt and Shame?
1780 Mirror No. 71 Former services..sunk to nothing.
1801 M. Edgeworth Forester in Moral Tales I. 39 Flora..soon sunk many degrees in his opinion.
1852 W. M. Thackeray Henry Esmond II. xv. 282 He had sunk by this time to the very worst reputation.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xv. 516 The Whigs, conscious that they had lately sunk in the opinion both of the King and of the nation.
1991 Independent 12 Feb. 13/5 Henry Moore is sinking now..and I don't expect he will be paraded again for 25 years.
b. transitive. To adversely affect the reputation of; to lower in public estimation; to tarnish. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > detract from [verb (transitive)] > bring discredit on or bring into disrepute
unworthyc1230
alosea1325
low1340
ensclaundre1389
foulc1390
disparagea1400
deface1529
depress1550
discredit?1550
ignoblec1590
redound1591
reproach1593
blame1596
nullify1603
scandal1606
sinka1616
even1625
explode1629
disrepute1649
disrepute1651
lese1678
rogue1678
reflect1769
disconsider1849
dispraise1879
a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) v. iii. 183 Let your highnes Lay a more noble thought vpon mine honour, Then for to thinke that I would sinke it heere. View more context for this quotation
1693 Perswasive to Consideration 16 Hence it is counted more Honourable not to pay our Debts than to sink our Figure.
1707 J. Addison Present State War in Wks. (1721) IV. 301 They catch at all opportunities of..ruining our trade, and sinking the figure which we make among the nations of Europe.
1779 Mirror No. 60 Far from sinking their dignity in our estimation, it adds to it.
1816 J. Austen Emma II. xv. 281 The sensations which could prompt such behaviour sunk them both very much.
1984 Helicon Nine 11 13/1 Since men..sank her reputation, it would be gratifying to restore her, adorning her as a victim after all.
31.
a. transitive. To render (a sound) less audible; esp. to drop or lower (the voice) in speaking.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > impart specific tone or quality [verb (transitive)] > lower voice
underputa1382
fall1626
sink1646
to lower one's voicea1713
1646 T. Fuller Andronicus ii. v. sig. C5v Then sinking his voyce, past possibility of being overheard, he continued.
1742 A. Pope New Dunciad 213 To sound or sink in cano, O or A.
1748 A. Philips Pastorals iv. 28 And fain would teach me on what sounds to dwell And where to sink a note, and where to swell.
1821 W. Scott Kenilworth III. i. 8 He..sunk what he had to say in a whisper.
1882 W. Besant Revolt of Man (1883) vi. 140 She sank her voice, although they were not within earshot of any one.
1940 E. H. Clements Bright Intervals xiii. 216 Alister sank his voice to a blood-curdling depth and bent closer.
1998 Economist 23 May 56/1 Even when inviting his interlocutor to a cup of tea, Mr Bitterlich is liable to sink his voice to a whisper as if imparting a state secret.
b. intransitive. Of a sound: to become gradually fainter; to die away.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > faintness or weakness > sound faintly or quietly [verb (intransitive)] > become faint or quiet
languish?1510
sink1794
fade1879
diminuendo1901
decrescendo1903
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. viii. 247 The sound of her steps soon sunk in distance.
1820 P. B. Shelley Prometheus Unbound ii. i. 71 How the notes sink upon the ebbing wind!
1873 R. Browning Red Cotton Night-cap Country iii. 169 Chatting and chirping sunk inconsciously To silence.
1946 O. F. Grazebrook Nicanor of Athens xviii. 281 His voice sank almost into inaudibility as he said these words.
2002 C. V. Korn Flashes & Lies xiii. 99 A siren crescendoed, then passed, strands of sound sinking as the police car spun away.
32. transitive. To pay off or discharge (a debt, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > payment > payment of debt > pay debt [verb (transitive)]
quit?c1225
acquita1250
to pay up1434
satisfy1437
discharge1439
defease1480
persolve1548
solve1558
defray1576
affray1584
clear1600
to pay off1607
extinguish1630
to lay downa1640
wipe1668
settle1688
sink1694
retrieve1711
to clear up1726
balance1740
liquidate1755
to clear off1766
square1821
amortize1830
1694 2nd Pt. Rep. Court of Chancery Charles II to William & Mary 90 Other Monies..if not paid on other account, shall be applied in further satisfaction of the said Judgment, first to discharge the Interest, and then to sink the Principal.
1727 A. Boyer Dictionaire Royal (rev. ed.) (at cited word) To sink a Fund, éteindre, supprimer, amortir un Fond.
1740 W. Douglass Disc. Currencies Brit. Plantations in Amer. 16 Their Bills became of less Value than those of New-York; but being yearly in good Faith, sunk, they became equal.
1787 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) II. 102 That impost will suffice to..sink the principal in a very few years.
1895 Daily News 18 Apr. 3/1 This windfall should properly go to sink the unfunded debt.
2007 PMLA 122 686/2 The purpose of the fund was to pay down Britain's national debt by progressively ‘sinking’ the amount of interest and principle [sic] with taxes perpetually earmarked for this purpose.
33.
a. transitive. To invest (money) in an asset; to commit (resources) to a proposition for future profit.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > types of money-dealing > [verb (transitive)] > invest
improve1461
occupy1465
to put out1572
vie1598
put1604
stock1683
sink1699
place1700
vest1719
fund1778
embark1832
to put forth1896
1699 R. Cocks Diary 26 Nov. in Parl. Diary (1996) 38 Some said money ought to be sunk in the interest.
1727 A. Boyer Dictionaire Royal (rev. ed.) (at cited word) In..Annuities, the Capital is sunk for the Lender.
1789 J. Brand Hist. & Antiq. Newcastle II. 197 The revenue of the Corporation..including the sums that had been sunk with them for lives.
1797 E. Burke Third Let. Peace Regicide Directory France 144 The Grand Junction Company,..having sunk half a million,..applied to your House, for permission to subscribe half as much more.
1831 Society 1 139 It is in my power to add to my own income by sinking my small principal.
1848 J. S. Mill Princ. Polit. Econ. I. i. vi. §1 108 Capital sunk (as the expression is) in permanent improvements of land.
1866 J. E. T. Rogers Hist. Agric. & Prices I. xxviii. 672 To these we must add the capital sunk in the mills.
1934 E. F. Corbett House Across River iv. 48 ‘It's a good place to sink money,’ said Farwell. ‘First cousin to a gold mine, a marl plant is.’
1990 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 1 Mar. 18/2 Soon they too would be sinking their time and money into caring for the yard.
2010 Wall St. Jrnl. 3 Mar. c6/5 Few investors have been willing to risk sinking equity into unimproved property that doesn't throw off any cash flow.
b. transitive. To invest or spend unprofitably; to lose (money) in unfortunate investment, war, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > financial loss > lose money [verb (transitive)]
drop1676
sink1777
to clear out1850
1777 J. Reed in J. Sparks Corr. Amer. Revol. (1853) I. 388 I found that in two or three years I should probably sink my little fortune.
1780 J. Howard State Prisons Eng. & Wales (ed. 2) 263 There is an account of several..bequests to prisoners. Whether they be now totally sunk,..I cannot say.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian x, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. III. 262 Some stock sunk in the South-Sea funds.
1847 T. De Quincey Spanish Mil. Nun in Wks. (1853) III. 16 The unknown amounts of cash, that had been sunk in that unhappy speculation!
1872 J. Yeats Growth Commerce 310 The enormous sums sunk in war.
1932 J. T. Farrell Judgment Day xvi. 347 All the dough he had was four hundred and sixty dollars out of the two thousand he'd sunken.
2003 C. Dickson tr. G. Pineau Macadam Dreams viii. 186 The money splurged on a gold ring, the money sunk into a yard of silk for a fancy blouse.
†34. transitive. To appropriate (money, etc.) for one's own use; to make away with; = pocket v. 1b. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > taking possession > take possession of [verb (transitive)] > appropriate
ownOE
rimec1275
takec1300
appropre1366
to keep, take to or for one's own storec1385
to get awayc1480
proper1496
apprehenda1522
impropry1526
impropriate1567
carve1578
forestall1581
appropriate1583
propriate1587
pocket1597
impatronize1611
propertya1616
asself1632
appropriatea1634
swallow1637
to swallow up1654
sink1699
poucha1774
spheterize1779
sack1807
fob1818
to look back to1822
mop1861
annex1865
1699 A. Boyer Royal Dict. (at cited word) To sink or keep part of a Sum of Mony.
1713 J. Addison Trial Count Tariff in Wks. (1721) IV. 324 That the said Count had either sunk or mis-laid several books, papers, and receipts.
1760 C. Johnstone Chrysal I. i. iv. 27 By sinking the greatest part of her fortune to my own use.
1819 J. H. Vaux Memoirs II. 57 I took up..the broaches, and immediately ‘sunk’ a very handsome one..in my coat-sleeve.
1865 Leaves from Diary Celebrated Burglar 12/1 He was accused of sinking the eighty ‘quid,’ and asked to ‘square it’.
1885 D. O'Connell & W. J. Kohlmann On the Road i. i. 13 If I tell the gang I made a dollar for doing a little job like that, they'd all swear I'd stole it. But I'll just sink it and say nothing about it.
35.
†a. transitive. To exhaust the strength of (a person); to weaken, debilitate. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > bodily constitution > bodily weakness > weakening > weaken [verb (transitive)]
unstrengea1225
unstrength?c1225
feeblea1340
affeeblea1400
weakc1400
affeeblishc1450
enfeeblisha1492
pallc1500
weaken1569
effeeblish?1572
unstrengthen1598
labefy1620
unnerve1621
unmasculate1639
unbrace1711
sinka1715
infirmize1751
slacken1778
exhaust1860
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 523 All these things, together with a load of age.., sunk Duke Lauderdale so that he died.
1782 Med. Communications 1 32 Bleeding sunk the patient much.
1818 J. Hennen Princ. Mil. Surg. (1820) 217 Repeated and copious venous bleedings now came on, which rapidly sunk the patient.
b. intransitive. To fail in health or strength; to decline rapidly (under some trouble or ailment). Formerly also: †to die (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > [verb (intransitive)]
forsweltc888
sweltc888
adeadeOE
deadc950
wendeOE
i-wite971
starveOE
witea1000
forfereOE
forthfareOE
forworthc1000
to go (also depart , pass, i-wite, chare) out of this worldOE
queleOE
fallOE
to take (also nim, underfo) (the) deathOE
to shed (one's own) blood?a1100
diec1135
endc1175
farec1175
to give up the ghostc1175
letc1200
aswelta1250
leavea1250
to-sweltc1275
to-worthc1275
to yield (up) the ghost (soul, breath, life, spirit)c1290
finea1300
spilla1300
part?1316
to leese one's life-daysa1325
to nim the way of deathc1325
to tine, leave, lose the sweatc1330
flit1340
trance1340
determinec1374
disperisha1382
to go the way of all the eartha1382
to be gathered to one's fathers1382
miscarryc1387
shut1390
goa1393
to die upa1400
expirea1400
fleea1400
to pass awaya1400
to seek out of lifea1400–50
to sye hethena1400
tinea1400
trespass14..
espirec1430
to end one's days?a1439
decease1439
to go away?a1450
ungoc1450
unlivec1450
to change one's lifea1470
vade1495
depart1501
to pay one's debt to (also the debt of) naturea1513
to decease this world1515
to go over?1520
jet1530
vade1530
to go westa1532
to pick over the perch1532
galpa1535
to die the death1535
to depart to God1548
to go home1561
mort1568
inlaikc1575
shuffle1576
finish1578
to hop (also tip, pitch over, drop off, etc.) the perch1587
relent1587
unbreathe1589
transpass1592
to lose one's breath1596
to make a die (of it)1611
to go offa1616
fail1623
to go out1635
to peak over the percha1641
exita1652
drop1654
to knock offa1657
to kick upa1658
to pay nature her due1657
ghost1666
to march off1693
to die off1697
pike1697
to drop off1699
tip (over) the perch1699
to pass (also go, be called, etc.) to one's reward1703
sink1718
vent1718
to launch into eternity1719
to join the majority1721
demise1727
to pack off1735
to slip one's cable1751
turf1763
to move off1764
to pop off the hooks1764
to hop off1797
to pass on1805
to go to glory1814
sough1816
to hand in one's accounts1817
to slip one's breatha1819
croak1819
to slip one's wind1819
stiffen1820
weed1824
buy1825
to drop short1826
to fall (a) prey (also victim, sacrifice) to1839
to get one's (also the) call1839
to drop (etc.) off the hooks1840
to unreeve one's lifeline1840
to step out1844
to cash, pass or send in one's checks1845
to hand in one's checks1845
to go off the handle1848
to go under1848
succumb1849
to turn one's toes up1851
to peg out1852
walk1858
snuff1864
to go or be up the flume1865
to pass outc1867
to cash in one's chips1870
to go (also pass over) to the majority1883
to cash in1884
to cop it1884
snuff1885
to belly up1886
perch1886
to kick the bucket1889
off1890
to knock over1892
to pass over1897
to stop one1901
to pass in1904
to hand in one's marble1911
the silver cord is loosed1911
pip1913
to cross over1915
conk1917
to check out1921
to kick off1921
to pack up1925
to step off1926
to take the ferry1928
peg1931
to meet one's Maker1933
to kiss off1935
to crease it1959
zonk1968
cark1977
to cark it1979
to take a dirt nap1981
the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease activity [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of things, actions, or processes > gradually
to die away1680
sink1718
to die off1722
to burn out, forth1832
to die down1836
peter1846
fizz1847
to fizzle out1847
to die out1853
poof1915
down1924
to wind down1969
the world > health and disease > ill health > be in ill health [verb (intransitive)] > be weak > become weak
of-fall?a1200
fail?c1225
wastea1300
languisha1325
defail1340
languora1375
defaulta1382
wastea1387
faintc1450
mortifyc1475
hink?a1500
traik?a1513
droopc1540
unquick1595
macerate1598
dodder1617
lachanize1623
smartle1673
break1726
go1748
sink1780
wilt1787
falter1799
weaken1886
to go down1892
to go out of curl1924
1718 Mem. Life J. Kettlewell iii. 457 He sunk all of a sudden; for being raised to take some Chocolate for his Re-freshment, he Died in a Moment in that Posture.
1780 Mirror No. 106 His health began to sink under the vexations of his mind.
1804 J. Abernethy Surg. Observ. 65 The patient being previously much exhausted, sunk under this last complaint.
1829 S. Cooper Good's Study Med. (ed. 3) I. 385 The patient..did not sink till his stomach became disordered.
1892 Academy 13 Feb. 161/1 He sank quietly and died on the 1st February.
1966 A. Higgins Langrishe, go Down xxxvi. 267 Helen seemed to be recovering; only to sink again, and died quite peacefully a week later.
2010 P. N. Dutes Dynamic Power through Prayer 299 Lord please support me I'm sinking fast.
36.
a. transitive. To reduce to (also into) an inferior form; to lose (a thing) in something lesser. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 103. ⁋9 The necessity of doing something, and the fear of undertaking much, sinks the historian to a genealogist.
1781 W. Cowper Table Talk 415 When a country..In prostitution sinks the sense of shame.
1830 O. A. Brownson in Genesee Republican & Herald of Reform (Le Roy, N.Y.) 18 Aug. It..would take away all the motives to exertion, and finally sink man into a mere animal that would eat, drink, propagate his species and die.
1894 Sc. Rev. 24 158 It is quite possible to conceive of his sinking his personality, but it is quite impossible to conceive of his sinking true dignity of character, in anonymity.
1971 J. Hoyles Waning of Renaissance x. 132 Norris moves towards Watts's achievement of sinking his Metaphysical lyricism into the new idiom of the hymn.
b. intransitive. Of a person or thing: to change or be transformed into (also to) some inferior form; to dwindle into.
ΚΠ
a1770 J. Jortin Serm. (1771) IV. ix. 187 Prudence without piety sinks into knavish craft.
1841 C. MacKay Mem. Pop. Delusions III. i. 173 He sank from a prodigy into an ordinary man.
1849 J. Ruskin Seven Lamps Archit. ii. 50 It is, indeed, possible..for men to sink into machines themselves.
1888 ‘J. S. Winter’ Bootle's Children i. 2 The afternoon was just sinking into dusk.
1910 tr. Confucius Sacred Writings I. 60 Love of knowledge, without love of learning, sinks into presumption.
1991 R. Davies Murther & Walking Spirits i. viii. 17 Canadian modesty..can sometimes sink to a Gee Whiz, Aw Shucks simpletonism.
2007 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 16 Aug. 27/3 Much of literary criticism sank into an imported technojargon.

Phrases

P1.
a. In various expressions contrasted with swim (formerly also †flete (fleet v.1 1a)), to denote failure or adversity as opposed to success, prosperity, etc. Now esp. in to sink or swim: to fail or succeed entirely by one's own efforts (typically used to indicate the arrival of a personal turning point).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > resolution or determination > [phrase] > determination regardless of consequences
at all perilsc1300
sinka1393
sink or swimc1410
neck or nothing1673
coûte que coûte1715
at all costs1810
Sydney or the bush1924
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. l. 1628 (MED) Betre is to flete than to sincke.
?a1425 (a1415) Lanterne of Liȝt (Harl.) (1917) 106 (MED) Hiȝe prelatis..charge not wheþir þei synk or swyme.
a1450 (c1370) G. Chaucer Complaint unto Pity (Tanner) (1871) l. 110 Ye rekke not whethyr I flete or sinke.
a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 58 They care not as hyt ys commynly sayd whether they synke or swyme.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Nager A fauourite..of authoritie, may boldly swimme where another would sinke.
1637 G. Gillespie Dispute against Eng.-Popish Ceremonies Epist. sig. A2v If the Court swimme, he cares not though the Church sinke.
a1660 in J. T. Gilbert Contemp. Hist. Ireland (1880) II. 193 The foresaide Conaght armie..must now shincke or swime.
1832 J. Clare Let. Jan. (1985) 563 All I wanted was to use my own means to sink or swim as good luck or bad luck might hereafter alow me.
1986 C. Lassalle Breaking Rules 90 She would have to cope on her own: to launch herself on the party and..sink or swim.
b. sink or swim: ‘whatever happens’; used adverbially to express determination to do something regardless of the consequences.
ΚΠ
1668 R. Steele Husbandmans Calling iii. 29 I will be just and honest, sink or swim.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian i, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. III. 20 Sink or swim, I am determined to gang to Lunnon.
2011 T. McDonald Daydreams of Country Boy vii. 203 Linda started to say something but changed her mind. Connie was ready with questions, sink or swim.
P2. sink me: ‘curse me!’; used as an oath. Formerly also as n.: †an utterance of ‘sink me!’ (obsolete). Now chiefly archaic and in works of historical fiction.
ΚΠ
1642 R. Andrewes Perfect Declar. Barbarous Pract. sig. Ajv The Cavalliers swore ‘Damme me and sinke me if we doe not kill all the Puritans..in the towne’.
1666 M. Mead Solomon's Prescript. 28 Who can scarce speak a sentence without their Dammee's and Sinkmee's.
1735 E. Cooper Rival Widows ii. x. 41 Make a Person of my Character the Messenger of your Confound-me's, and Rot-me's, and Sink-me's! Make me the Agent of your Oaths and Curses!
1821 W. Scott Pirate III. vii. 151 I had rather you tried your saw..upon the ship's knee-timbers than on mine, sink me!
1940 Baroness Orczy Mam'zelle Guillotine 178 ‘Sink me!’ he muttered, ‘but I'm stiff. I never thought a woman could hit so hard.’
2005 J. M. Ward Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe ii. 34 You are the luckiest officer on the dragonship Sanguine today; sink me if it isn't so.
P3. Angling. sink and draw: a method of angling in which the bait or fly is allowed to sink before being gently drawn back to the surface; also used adverbially and attributively (in hyphenated form); cf. sinking and drawing n. at sinking n. Phrases.
ΚΠ
1770 R. Brookes Art of Angling (ed. 3) 199 The Cod-Bait..is to be used with a Hook leaded on the Shank, and the Cod-bait drawn on to the Top of it. It will take in deep Waters as well as in Streams, by moving it up and down about nine Inches or a Foot from the Bottom; this is commonly called sink and draw.
1889 ‘J. Bickerdyke’ Bk. All-round Angler (new ed.) iii. 99 The ‘grasshopper’ is cast in likely spots and worked with a sink-and-draw motion near the bottom.
1916 Brit. Sea Anglers' Society's Q. 9 37 Might do worse than try the rocks off Bognor in September or October, using a light unleaded drift-line, and fishing it sink-and-draw.
1929 C. D. Marson Fishing for Salmon xi. 145 Continue this sink-and-draw action until the bait comes into the side. Now cast again, more across stream, and continue the sink and draw as before.
2005 J. E. Mitchell Rapala 188 The 7cm (2.8 in.) ThunderCraw was an excellent crawfish imitation to the extent that it was balanced so that it would have a natural ‘falling position’ when fished sink-and-draw.
P4. to sink the wind: (a) Hunting to move downwind so as to avoid being scented; (spec. of a fox) to pass below the line of scent; cf. wind n.1 4; †(b) Falconry (of a bird) to fly beneath the wind in order to catch a rising air current (obsolete rare).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > hunt [verb (intransitive)] > move downwind
to sink the wind1776
the world > food and drink > hunting > thing hunted or game > action of game > [verb (intransitive)]
to stand, be (abide obs.) at bayc1314
to steal awayc1369
stalla1425
starta1425
rusec1425
beatc1470
lodgec1470
trason1486
rouse1532
angle1575
bolt1575
to take squat1583
baya1657
watch1677
fall1697
tree1699
to go away1755
to sink the wind1776
to get up1787
to go to ground1797
lie1797
to stand up1891
fly1897
1776 G. Cartwright Jrnl. Resid. Coast Labrador 23 June (1792) II. 182 I then got into my kyack, sunk the wind of him [sc. a stag], landed and got a bad shot, but missed him.
1778 G. Cartwright Jrnl. 26 Sept. (1792) II. 374 I saw a large stag upon the south hill..and I let him pass; crossing his route and sinking the wind, I made all possible speed to the foot of Gravel Hills, where I headed him.
1847 R. S. Surtees Hawbuck Grange v. 96 We..found a hare by Clipstone Clump, who went as straight as an arrow to Gatley Coppice, from whence, sinking the wind all the way, she ran to Silverspring.
1886 F. H. Salvin & W. Brodrick Falconry in Brit. Isles Gloss. 153 To sink the wind, to skim near the earth..in order to catch the wind and rise up-wind with it.
1948 F. Pitt Hounds, Horses & Hunting 271 Sink the Wind, to go downwind.
†P5. colloquial. to sink the shop: to avoid mentioning one's trade or business; also used attributively to designate the convention of not discussing work in social situations; cf. shop n. 7. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1805 Cecily Fitz-Owen I. 260 ‘Sink the shop, for God's sake!’ drawled a sallow faced young man,..‘or I shall imagine myself the associate of grocers, butchers, and tallow-chandlers.’
1824 Ladies' Monthly Museum July 35 ‘Sink the shop!’ echoed Paul, ‘I won't sink the shop;—the shop raised me, and hang me, if I return such ingratitude to an old friend. I am not ashamed of people knowing I once kept a shop.’
1887 T. A. Trollope What I Remember I. 301 He, as well as I, utterly scouted the stupid sink-the-shop rule of conversation.
1913 Outlook 6 Sept. 53/1 The effort of a busy man to ‘sink the shop’ in his hours of ease.
P6. to sink without (a) trace: to disappear from the record; to fail, without having left a mark. Also: to sink (a person or thing) without (a) trace: to cause (a person or thing) to disappear in this way (chiefly in passive). [Originally after German spurlos versinken, subsequently also spurlos versenken (compare spurlos versenkt adj.).]
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)] > sink > in liquid > sink without trace
to sink without (a) trace1823
1823 tr. A. H. Niemeyer Trav. on Continent & in Eng. in R. Phillips New Voy. & Trav. IX. 10 The last tops of all the steeples..all sunk without a trace [Ger alles ist spurlos versunken].
1932 Univ. of Iowa Stud. in Soc. Sci. Dec. 139 Intractable members of Congress from Allison's home district were sunk without trace.
1958 K. Amis I like it Here xii. 142 The whole shooting-match would have sunk without trace.
1983 Sunday Tel. 17 Apr. 18/5 An elixir which could revitalise Britain [sc. nationalism] has been sunk without trace like some dreadful form of noxious waste.
2012 Bollywood Post (U.K. ed.) 11 Sept. 11/1 Her comeback film Aaja Nachle sank without a trace, but that hasn't deterred Madhuri Dixit Nene.
P7.
a. to sink one's teeth into: (a) to bite deeply into (something); (b) figurative to tackle (something) with enthusiasm, to work energetically and productively on (a task); = to get one's teeth into at tooth n. Phrases 5h.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > biting > bite [verb (transitive)] > into or through something
biteOE
shear1530
to sink one's teeth into1832
the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > begin an action or fall to doing something > resolutely or vigorously
to sit in1736
strap1823
to get down1826
tackle1841
to buckle down (to)1865
to bite on1904
to wade into1904
to get stuck into1910
to get one's teeth into1935
to sink one's teeth into1935
to get stuck in1938
to get to grips with1947
1832 Belfast News Let. 5 Oct. The voracious animal actually..sunk its teeth into the..stick which was employed to force open its jaws!
1935 Mag. Women's City Club (Detroit) Nov. 30/2 Those robust souls who crave meaty reading, will enjoy sinking their teeth into Europa, a first novel by Robert Briffault.
1987 P. McCabe Bad News at Black Rock vii. 142 She wanted to sink her teeth into some major political stories.
2018 Independent (Nexis) 16 Dec. 32 I can put my feet up come Christmas afternoon, sink my teeth into a Christmas pie, wash it down with a well-earned sherry.
b. U.S. colloquial. to sink tooth into: to bite into, esp. deeply; to eat; (figurative) to come to grips with, begin serious or substantial work on.
ΚΠ
1891 Outing Nov. 136/1 Only a favored few of the millions of feasters on Thanksgiving Day will sink tooth into genuine wild turkey meat.
1953 Rec. Collector Apr. 91 [She] is nothing more than her usual adequate self when, on records, she has little to sink tooth into for a definite characterization.
1979 K. Bonfiglioli After you with Pistol xiv. 99 He regaled me with delectable tea and the finest and crispest ham-rolls I have ever sunk tooth into.
P8. to sink through the floor: expressing a desperate desire to escape an embarrassing situation.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > humility > feeling of shame > be ashamed [verb (intransitive)] > be embarrassed
to look ateOE
not to know which way (also where) to look1566
to sink through the floor1839
to have (get, etc.) egg on one's face1964
1839 C. M. Kirkland New Home xli. 277 ‘Married!’ said Everard, his fine eyes flashing lightning, while poor Cora, completely humbled, felt ready to sink through the floor.
1908 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables xii. 118 She thought she would sink through the floor when she saw you come in all rigged out like that.
1956 ‘C. Blackstock’ Dewey Death iv. 79 The pause was long enough to make Barbara wish she could sink through the floor.
1990 J. Eberts & T. Ilott My Indecision is Final xvii. 183 The assistant..continued to brush away non-existent crumbs, all the while talking about the film in the most insulting manner. I was sinking through the floor.

Phrasal verbs

to sink in
1.
a. intransitive. To penetrate or soak into something; to be absorbed by something.
ΚΠ
?a1425 MS Hunterian 95 f. 161, in Middle Eng. Dict. at Sinken Þe surgene..made his bocche summe tyme to sinke inne aȝeine.
?c1450 in G. Müller Aus Mittelengl. Medizintexten (1929) 135 (MED) Take þe jws off celydonye and ley it on þe heed and rubbe it well, tyll it synke in.
1729 W. Hope tr. J. de Solleysel Compleat Horseman (ed. 4) ii. 265 Foment each Leg with a quarter of a pint of Brandy, to make the Oil sink in.
1987 O. Beattie & J. Geiger Frozen in Time (2014) ix. 133 At first they sank in only up to their boot tops.
b. intransitive. Of oil paints: to seep into the ground of the painting. Hence also of an oil painting: to develop dull spots as a result of this process.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > condition or preservation of paintings > [verb (intransitive)] > sink
sink1756
to sink in1758
1758 R. Dossie Handmaid to Arts I. Pref. p. x I have subjoined a method, by which those, who are really in earnest about the merit of their performances, may procure cloths to be made without either stiffening, cracking, or causing (as it is called) the colours to sink in.
1859 T. J. Gullick & J. Timbs Painting 222 The tendency some colours have, in certain circumstances, to what is called ‘sink-in’.
1939 H. Hubbard Materia Pictoria 231 During the process of painting, and after completion, Oil Paintings are liable to sink-in and become dull in parts.
1995 L. Cateura Oil Painting Secrets from Master 38/1 If your canvas has a good smooth surface and if you don't work the paint too much, the paint should stay on top of the canvas and remain shiny, rather than sink in and look dull.
2017 P. Tyler Drawing & painting Landscape vii. 138 If you are working in a layered manner, starting with an underpainting..the use of mediums enables you to do this without the problem of the painting sinking in, or cracking.
c. intransitive. Of a thought, idea, etc.: to register in the mind or understanding; to make an impression.
ΚΠ
a1882 J. P. Quincy Figures of Past (1883) 250 Then a pause, that the absurdity of the position of his antagonist might sink in and be vividly realized.
1969 New Yorker 14 June 46/1 I think it has sunk in that he sometimes offends people, and I can see him fighting it.
2012 N. Hawley Good Father (2013) 208 It was clear now that nothing she'd said to me the night before had sunk in.
2. intransitive To cave in; to fall inwards, creating a hollow.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > falling > fall [verb (intransitive)] > collapse > inwards
to sink in1530
to fall in1611
to cave in1707
to run in1747
cave1848
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement Table of Verbes f. ccclxiv/1 I synke in as a mans harnesse synketh by vyolence of strokes, Ie me efondre.
1729 J. Woodward Attempt Towards Nat. Hist. Fossils of Eng. 45 In the middle on one side, the Stone sinks in, and rises out on the opposite, as if it had been soft and press'd in that Part.
1764 tr. F. Algarotti Ess. on Painting 118 In fits of melancholy, the eyes grow motionless and dead, the face pale, and the lips sink in.
1989 N. Sherry Graham Greene i. xxxv. 555 His cheeks had sunk in, there were black smudges under his eyes.

Compounds

C1. In combination with adverbs.
a. Forming adjectives with the sense ‘characterized by the action of sinking down, in, etc.’
ΚΠ
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. x. 428 All my dayly solace, was sincke down comfort; whiles Boggy-plunging deepes kissing my horse belly.
1948 Sunday Jrnl. & Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) 31 Oct. 10 c/5 (advt.) Kingsley lounge chair. Sink-down comfort and fine back and arms styling.
1987 Clovis News Jrnl. (New Mexico) 13 Sept. 25 (advt.) The deep comfort cushions are generously plumped for sink-in pleasure.
b.
† sink-down n. Obsolete rare ruin, destruction; cf. sense 22a.
ΚΠ
1602 W. Watson Decacordon Ten Quodlibeticall Questions 7 [The Jesuits] had discouered themselues a little before to be the rockes of scandale to Priesthood, and shelues of sinke-downe to all princely regalitie.
C2. Forming nouns with the sense ‘a person who or thing which sinks something’.
† sink-pocket n. colloquial Obsolete a person, place, or thing that swallows up money; a drain on financial resources.
ΚΠ
1822 W. Irving Bracebridge Hall (U.K. ed.) II. 312 I've been a complete sink-pocket, that's the truth of it!
1829 Louisville (Kentucky) Public Advertiser 11 July Walter Jones, the public attorney..has played sink-pocket with all the money of the government which he collected.
1879 Daily Disp. (Richmond, Va.) 1 Dec. Our proposed railroad will soon be a sink-pocket, falling into disuse and ruin.
1917 ‘Banjo’ Paterson Three Elephant Power 63 He's a blanky sink-pocket. If he can come this far, let him come on to Sydney and play for double the stakes.
† sink-soul n. colloquial Obsolete a person who destroys souls.Apparently an isolated use.
ΚΠ
1688 J. Bunyan Heavenly Foot-man in Wks. (1851) III. 385 The..soul-entangling flatteries of such sink-souls as these are.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

† sinkadv.

Origin: Formed within English, by clipping or shortening. Etymons: English sinking the offal , sink v.
Etymology: Shortened < sinking the offal (see sink v. 23d).
Obsolete.
Without the weight of the offal (used when reckoning the weight of a carcass). Cf. sink v. 23d.
ΚΠ
1801 Farmer's Mag. Nov. 481 Lean cattle.., if they had been killed immediately, would have come to 10s. per stone (of 14 lib.) sink.
1854 Farmer's Mag. July 80/2 Two-year-old sheep, 6d. per lb. sink; hoggets, 5d. to 5¼d. per lb. sink.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.11413n.2a1425v.OEadv.1801
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