verb

drowse

Drowse (verb) means to make (someone or something) heavy with drowsiness or sleepiness.

verb

To make (someone or something) heavy with drowsiness or sleepiness.

Followed by away: to pass (time) drowsily or in sleeping; also, to proceed (on a way) drowsily or sleepily.

To make (someone or something) dull or inactive, as if from sleepiness.

Often followed by away or off: to be drowsy or sleepy; to be half-asleep.

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Etymology

The verb is either: * a back-formation from drowsy, which is attested earlier; or * possibly from Middle English *drousen (no known attestations), from Old English drūsan, drūsian (“to droop, sink; to become feeble, inactive, low, or slow, drowse”), from Proto-Germanic *drūsijaną (“to look down; mourn”) (possibly merged with *dreusaną (“to fall”)), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰrewHs- (“to break off; to fall down”). The noun is derived from the verb. cognates * Danish drøse (“to be negligent; to slow down”) * Dutch drozen (“to doze; muse”) * German trauern (“to mourn, be sad”) * Gothic 𐌳𐍂𐌹𐌿𐍃𐌰𐌽 (driusan, “to fall; to fall down”) * Norwegian døse (“to drowse”) * Old English drēosan (“to fall; to perish; to rush”) (whence Middle English dresen (“to fall down”)) * Swedish drösa (“to be slow”)

Rhymes for drowse

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Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of drowse?

"drowse" (verb) means to make (someone or something) heavy with drowsiness or sleepiness.

What are the different meanings of drowse?

"drowse" has 3 main meanings: 1. To make (someone or something) heavy with drowsiness or sleepiness; 2. Followed by away: to pass (time) drowsily or in sleeping; also, to proceed (on a way) drowsily or sleepily; 3. To make (someone or something) dull or inactive, as if from sleepiness.