Ebb and flow

Ebb and flow
Ebb Ebb, n. [AS. ebba; akin to Fries. ebba, D. eb, ebbe, Dan. & G. ebbe, Sw. ebb, cf. Goth. ibuks backward; prob. akin to E. even.] 1. The reflux or flowing back of the tide; the return of the tidal wave toward the sea; -- opposed to {flood}; as, the boats will go out on the ebb. [1913 Webster]

Thou shoreless flood which in thy ebb and flow Claspest the limits of morality! --Shelley. [1913 Webster]

2. The state or time of passing away; a falling from a better to a worse state; low state or condition; decline; decay. ``Our ebb of life.'' --Roscommon. [1913 Webster]

Painting was then at its lowest ebb. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

{Ebb and flow}, the alternate ebb and flood of the tide; often used figuratively. [1913 Webster]

This alternation between unhealthy activity and depression, this ebb and flow of the industrial. --A. T. Hadley. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • ebb and flow — 1. noun a) The flowing out and in of the tide. b) A large flowing out and in. 2. verb To alternately ebb and flow. As true we are as flesh and blood can be: / The sea will ebb and flow, heaven show his face …   Wiktionary

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  • ebb and flow — Synonyms and related words: Lissajous figure, alternate, alternation, back and fill, back and forth, battledore and shuttlecock, be poised, billow, break, comb, come and go, coming and going, crash, dash, direct tide, ebb, ebb tide, flood, flood… …   Moby Thesaurus

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  • ebb and flow — 1) to keep becoming smaller or weaker and then larger or stronger Enthusiasm for reform ebbed and flowed. 2) to keep changing between two states The battle ebbed and flowed around them …   English dictionary

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