Etymology, English, Water

Etymology 

Noun. From Middle English water, from Old English wæter (“water”), from Proto-West Germanic *watar, from Proto-Germanic *watōr (“water”), from Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥ (“water”), from *wed- (“water”) +‎ *-r̥ (r/n-stem suffix). In Proto-Indo-European, the active elemental *wed- (“water”) was contrasted with the passive *h₂ep- (“body of water”), similar to the opposition of the active “fire” *h₁n̥gʷnis with the passive *péh₂wr̥. the word may have been borrowed from Proto-Indo-European into Proto-Uralic (*wete), or the reverse.

Verb. From Middle English wateren, from Old English wæterian, from Proto-Germanic *watrōną, *watrijaną, from Proto-Germanic *watōr (“water”), from Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥ (“water”).

Noun

water (countable and uncountable, plural waters)

1. (uncountable) A substance (of molecular formula H₂O) found at room temperature and pressure as a clear liquid; it is present naturally as rain, and found in rivers, lakes, and seas; its solid form is ice and its gaseous form is steam.

   By the action of electricity, the water was resolved into its two parts, oxygen and hydrogen.

   1. (uncountable, in particular) The liquid form of this substance: liquid H₂O.

      May I have a glass of water?

      Your plants need more water.

   2. (countable) A serving of liquid water.
2. (alchemy, philosophy) The aforementioned liquid, considered one of the Classical elements or basic elements of alchemy.

   And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

   He showed me the river of living water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God.

3. (uncountable or in the plural) Water in a body; an area of open water.

   The boat was found within the territorial waters.

   These seals are a common sight in the coastal waters of Chile.

4. (poetic, archaic, or dialectal) A body of water, almost always a river.
5. A combination of water and other substance(s).
   1. (sometimes countable) Mineral water.

      Perrier is the most popular water in this restaurant.

   2. (countable, often in the plural) Spa water.

      Many people visit Bath to take the waters.

   3. (pharmacy) A solution in water of a gaseous or readily volatile substance.

      ammonia water

   4. Urine. [from 15th c.]
   5. Amniotic fluid or the amniotic sac containing it. (Used only in the plural in the UK but often also in the singular in North America. (The Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary says “often used in plural; also: bag of waters”.))

      Before the child is born, the pregnant woman’s water breaks. (North America)

      Before your child is born, your water(s) will break. (North America)

      Before the child is born, the pregnant woman’s waters break. (UK)

   6. (colloquial, medicine) Fluids in the body, especially when causing swelling.

      He suffers from water on the knee.

6. (figuratively, in the plural or in the singular) A state of affairs; conditions; usually with an adjective indicating an adverse condition.

   The rough waters of change will bring about the calm after the storm.

7. (colloquial, figuratively) A person’s intuition.

   I know he’ll succeed. I feel it in my waters.

8. (uncountable, dated, finance) Excess valuation of securities.
9. The limpidity and lustre of a precious stone, especially a diamond.

   a diamond of the first water is perfectly pure and transparent

10. A wavy, lustrous pattern or decoration such as is imparted to linen, silk, metals, etc.

Verb

water (third-person singular simple present waters, present participle watering, simple past and past participle watered)

1. (transitive) To pour water into the soil surrounding (plants).
2. (transitive) To wet or supply with water; to moisten; to overflow with water; to irrigate.
3. (transitive) To provide (animals) with water for drinking.

   I need to go water the cattle.

4. (intransitive) To get or take in water.

   The ship put into port to water.

5. (transitive, colloquial) To urinate onto.

   Nature called, so I stepped into the woods and watered a tree.

6. (transitive) To dilute.

   Can you water the whisky, please?

7. (transitive, dated, finance) To overvalue (securities), especially through deceptive accounting.
8. (intransitive) To fill with or secrete water.

   Chopping onions makes my eyes water.

   The smell of fried onions makes my mouth water.

9. (transitive) To wet and calender, as cloth, so as to impart to it a lustrous appearance in wavy lines; to diversify with wavelike lines.

   to water silk