drench
verbEtymology
The verb is derived from Middle English drenchen, drench (“to drown; to flood, inundate; to consume (drink or food); to give (someone) a drink; to poison (someone) with a drink; to immerse, soak, drench; to descend, fall, sink; to penetrate, permeate; (figurative) to engulf, overwhelm”) [and other forms], from Old English drenċan (“to give (someone) a drink; to immerse, soak, drench”), from Proto-West Germanic *drankijan, from Proto-Germanic *drankijaną (“to cause (someone) to drink”), the causative of *drinkaną (“to drink”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *dʰrenǵ- (“to draw, pull; to gulp; to sip”). Doublet of drink (verb). The noun is derived from the verb (etymology 2, verb sense 1.2). Cognates * Old High German trenchen (modern German tränken (“to give a drink; to water”)) * Old Norse drekkja, drenkja (Swedish dränka) * Old Saxon dręnkian (Dutch drenke (“to get a drink”))
To cause (someone) to drink; to provide (someone) with a drink.
- Pork ſucceeds to Beef, Pies to Puddings: The Cloth is remov'd, Madam, drench'd vvith a Bumper, drops a Courtſey, and departs; […]1756 February 3 (first performance), Samuel Foote, The Englishman Return’d from Paris, Being the Sequel to The Englishman in Paris. A Farce […], London: […] Paul Vaillant, […], published 1756, →OCLC, Act I, page 27:
- But music alone, would not do—Some roast-beef was a necessary article, and some wine, to feed and drench the actors.1806 May, “Private Theatricals. King’s Bench, Feb. 17. Duchaliot, Assignee of Delpini, v. Lord Barrymore.”, in The Sporting Magazine; or Monthly Calendar of the Transactions of the Turf, the Chase, and Every Other Diversion Interesting to the Man of Pleasure, Enterprise, and Spirit, volume 28, London: […] W. M‘Dowall, […] and sold by J[ohn] Wheble, […], →OCLC, page 80, column 2:
3 more examples
- A stranger maiden, passing fair, / Had drenched him with a beverage rare;— […]1808 February 22, Walter Scott, “Canto Fifth. The Court.”, in Marmion; a Tale of Flodden Field, Edinburgh: […] J[ames] Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Company, […]; London: William Miller, and John Murray, →OCLC, stanza XXII, page 274:
- If the people felt themselves so happy; if they had enjoyed, and were enjoying, such prosperity as to call for a Jubilee, they would, of course, rejoice, they would sing and dance and shout, without being fed and drenched by way of hire to sing, dance, and shout.1809 November 2, W[illia]m Cobbett, “To William Bosville, Esq.”, in Cobbett’s Weekly Political Register, volume XVI, number 18, London: […] T[homas] C[urson] Hansard, […] [for] Richard Bagshaw, […], published 4 November 1809, →OCLC, columns 642–643:
- Strange that such a cursing wretch should not have laid to heart, that those God's hand will sure undo, who cause their parents wounded heart to smart, whose blood and marrow fed and drenched them, and of whom they form a part.1921, Immanuel ben Solomon Romi, chapter XII, in Hermann Gollancz, transl., Tophet and Eden (Hell and Paradise): In Imitation of Dante’s Inferno and Paradiso, […], London: University of London Press, […], →OCLC, page 35:
Biology, Medicine, Natural sciences, Pathology, Sciences, Veterinary, Zoology Specifically To administer a dose or draught of liquid medicine to (an animal), often by force.
To make (someone or something) completely wet by having water or some other liquid fall or thrown on them or it; to saturate, to soak; also (archaic), to make (someone or something) completely wet by immersing in water or some other liquid; to soak, to steep.
- That our Garments being (as they were) drencht in the Sea, hold notwithſtanding their freſhneſſe and gloſſes, being rather new dy'de then ſtain'd with ſalte water.1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 6, column 2:
- Deſolations by vvarrs; hovv many fields have been drencht vvith blood, and compoſted vvith carcaſſes; hovv many Millions of men have been cut off in all ages by the edge of the ſvvord?1641 September 17 (Gregorian calendar), Joseph Hall, “A Sermon Preacht in the Cathedral at Exceter, upon the Solemn Day Appointed for the Celebration of the Pacification betwixt the Two Kingdoms. Viz. Septemb. 7. 1641 [Julian calendar].”, in The Shaking of the Olive-Tree. The Remaining Works of that Incomparable Prelate Joseph Hall, D.D. […], London: […] J. Cadwel for J[ohn] Crooke, […], published 1660, →OCLC, page 53:
4 more examples
- Novv dam the Ditches, and the Floods reſtrain: / Their moiſture has already drench'd the Plain.1697, Virgil, “The Third Pastoral. Or, Palæmon.”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 16, lines 171–172:
- Good Shepherds after ſheering, drench their Sheep, / And their Flocks Father (forc'd from high to leap) / Svvims dovvn the Stream, and plunges in the Deep.1697, Virgil, “The Third Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 116, lines 680–682:
- I've ſeen a Beau, in ſome ill-fated hour, / VVhen o'er the Stones choak'd Kennels ſvvell the Shovv'r, / In gilded Chariot loll; he vvith Diſdain, / Vievvs ſpatter'd Paſſengers, all drench'd in Rain; […][1716], [John] Gay, “Book II. Of Walking the Streets by Day.”, in Trivia: Or, The Art of Walking the Streets of London, London: […] Bernard Lintott, […], →OCLC, page 46:
- I'll drench my Svvord in thy deteſted Blood, / Or ſoon make thee Immortal by my ovvn.1719 March 18 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), Edward Young, Busiris, King of Egypt. A Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1719, →OCLC, Act V, page 61:
Obsolete To drown (someone).
- VVhat flames (q[uo]d he) vvhen I thee preſent ſee, / In daunger rather to be drent, then brent?1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 49, page 270:
- He lookt a little further, and eſpyde / Another vvretch, vvhoſe carcas deepe vvas drent / VVithin the riuer, vvhich the ſame did hyde: […]1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 61, page 288:
1 more example
- Her, vvhom his furie hath from earth exil'd, / And in the ſtrangling vvaters drencht his child; […]1626, Ovid, “The Eighth Booke”, in George Sandys, transl., Ovid’s Metamorphosis Englished […], London: […] William Stansby, →OCLC, page 165:
Figuratively, Obsolete To overwhelm (someone); to drown, to engulf.
Obsolete To be drowned; also, to be immersed in water.
- Alas, now drencheth my ſwete fo, / That with the ſpoyle of my hart did go, / And left me but (alas) why did he ſo?a. 1548 (date written), [Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey], “Complaint of the Absence of Her Louer Being vpon the Sea”, in Songes and Sonettes, London: […] Richard Tottel, published 10 August 1557 (Gregorian calendar), →OCLC, folios 8, recto – 8, verso:
- Derived terms
- endrench, indrench, sun-drenched