water

water
{{11}}water (n.1) O.E. wæter, from P.Gmc. *watar (Cf. O.S. watar, O.Fris. wetir, Du. water, O.H.G. wazzar, Ger. Wasser, O.N. vatn, Goth. wato "water"), from PIE *wodor/*wedor/*uder-, from root *wed- (Cf. Hittite watar, Skt. udrah, Gk. hydor, O.C.S., Rus. voda, Lith. vanduo, O.Prus. wundan, Gael. uisge "water;" L. unda "wave").
Linguists believe PIE had two root words for water: *ap- and *wed-. The first (preserved in Skt. apah) was "animate," referring to water as a living force; the latter referred to it as an inanimate substance. The same probably was true of FIRE (Cf. fire) (n.).
To keep (one's) head above water in the figurative sense is recorded from 1742. Water cooler is recorded from 1846; water polo from 1884; water torture from 1928. First record of water-closet is from 1755. Water-ice as a confection is from 1818. Watering-place is mid-15c., of animals, 1757, of persons. Water-lily first attested 1540s.
{{12}}water (n.2) measure of quality of a diamond, c.1600, from WATER (Cf. water) (n.1), perhaps as a translation of Arabic ma' "water," which also is used in the sense "lustre, splendor."
{{12}}water (v.) O.E. wæterian (see WATER (Cf. water) (n.1)). Meaning "to dilute" is attested from late 14c.; now usually as water down (1850). To make water "urinate" is recorded from early 15c. Related: Watered; watering.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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Synonyms:
, , , / (for drink), , , , / (as cloth, to give it an undulating or wavy appearance)


Look at other dictionaries:

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  • water — [wôt′ər, wät′ər] n. [ME < OE wæter, akin to Ger wasser < IE * wodōr < * wed , to wet (< base * awed , to moisten, flow) > Gr hydōr, water, L unda, a wave, Russ voda, water, Ir uisce, water] 1. the colorless, transparent liquid… …   English World dictionary

  • Water — Wa ter (w[add] t[ e]r), n. [AS. w[ae]ter; akin to OS. watar, OFries. wetir, weter, LG. & D. water, G. wasser, OHG. wazzar, Icel. vatn, Sw. vatten, Dan. vand, Goth. wat[=o], O. Slav. & Russ. voda, Gr. y dwr, Skr. udan water, ud to wet, and perhaps …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • water — ► NOUN 1) the liquid which forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms. 2) (waters) an area of sea regarded as under the jurisdiction of a particular country. 3) (the waters) the water of a mineral… …   English terms dictionary

  • Water — Wa ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Watered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Watering}.] [AS. w[ae]terian, gew[ae]terian.] [1913 Webster] 1. To wet or supply with water; to moisten; to overflow with water; to irrigate; as, to water land; to water flowers. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Water — Wa ter, v. i. 1. To shed, secrete, or fill with, water or liquid matter; as, his eyes began to water. [1913 Webster] If thine eyes can water for his death. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To get or take in water; as, the ship put into port to water.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • water — wa‧ter [ˈwɔːtə ǁ ˈwɒːtər, ˈwɑː ] verb water something → down phrasal verb [transitive] to make a suggestion, rule, or proposal less forceful by removing some parts of it: • A late amendment watered down the insider trading penalties to a £100,000 …   Financial and business terms

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  • wáter — wáter, water closet → váter …   Diccionario panhispánico de dudas

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