Sink \Sink\, v. i. [imp. Sunk, or (Sank); 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.
I sink in deep mire. --Ps. lxix. 2.
2. To enter deeply; to fall or retire beneath or below the
surface; to penetrate.
The stone sunk into his forehead. --1 San. xvii.
49.
3. Hence, to enter so as to make an abiding impression; to
enter completely.
Let these sayings sink down into your ears. --Luke
ix. 44.
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.
I think our country sinks beneath the yoke. --Shak.
He sunk down in his chariot. --2 Kings ix.
24.
Let not the fire sink or slacken. --Mortimer.
5. To decrease in volume, as a river; to subside; to become
diminished in volume or in apparent height.
The Alps and Pyreneans sink before him. --Addison.
Syn: To fall; subside; drop; droop; lower; decline; decay;
decrease; lessen.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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