- Sinking
- Sink Sink (s[i^][ng]k), v. i. [imp. {Sunk} (s[u^][ng]k), or
({Sank} (s[a^][ng]k)); p. p. {Sunk} (obs. {Sunken}, -- now
used as adj.); p. pr. & vb. n. {Sinking}.] [OE. sinken, AS.
sincan; akin to D. zinken, OS. sincan, G. sinken, Icel.
s["o]kkva, Dan. synke, Sw. sjunka, Goth. siggan, and probably
to E. silt. Cf. {Silt}.]
1. To fall by, or as by, the force of gravity; to descend
lower and lower; to decline gradually; to subside; as, a
stone sinks in water; waves rise and sink; the sun sinks
in the west.
[1913 Webster]
I sink in deep mire. --Ps. lxix. 2. [1913 Webster]
2. To enter deeply; to fall or retire beneath or below the surface; to penetrate. [1913 Webster]
The stone sunk into his forehead. --1 San. xvii. 49. [1913 Webster]
3. Hence, to enter so as to make an abiding impression; to enter completely. [1913 Webster]
Let these sayings sink down into your ears. --Luke ix. 44. [1913 Webster]
4. To be overwhelmed or depressed; to fall slowly, as so the ground, from weakness or from an overburden; to fail in strength; to decline; to decay; to decrease. [1913 Webster]
I think our country sinks beneath the yoke. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
He sunk down in his chariot. --2 Kings ix. 24. [1913 Webster]
Let not the fire sink or slacken. --Mortimer. [1913 Webster]
5. To decrease in volume, as a river; to subside; to become diminished in volume or in apparent height. [1913 Webster]
The Alps and Pyreneans sink before him. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
Syn: To fall; subside; drop; droop; lower; decline; decay; decrease; lessen. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.