different between steep vs douse

English

Pronunciation

• enPR: st?p, IPA^(key): /sti?p/
• Rhymes: -i?p

Etymology 1

From Middle English steep, from Old English st?ap (“high”), from Proto-Germanic *staupaz. Compare Old Frisian st?p, Dutch stoop (“grand; proud”), Middle High German stouf (“towering cliff, precipice”), Middle High German stief (“steep”)), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)tewb- (“to push, stick”). The Proto-Indo-European root (and related) has many and varied descendants, including English stub; compare also Scots stap (“to strike, to forcibly insert”).

The sense of “sharp slope” is attested circa 1200; the sense “expensive” is attested US 1856.

Adjective

steep (comparative steeper, superlative steepest)

1. Of a near-vertical gradient; of a slope, surface, curve, etc. that proceeds upward at an angle near vertical.

2. (informal) expensive

3. (obsolete) Difficult to access; not easy reached; lofty; elevated; high.
   • 1596, George Chapman, De Guiana, carmen Epicum

     Her ears and thoughts in steep amaze erected

4. (of the rake of a ship's mast, or a car's windshield) resulting in a mast or windshield angle that strongly diverges from the perpendicular

Derived terms

• steepen

Synonyms

• (dialectal) brant

Translations

Noun

steep (plural steeps)

1. The steep side of a mountain etc.; a slope or acclivity.
   • 1833, Banjamin Disraeli, The Wondrous Tale of Alroy

     It ended precipitously in a dark and narrow ravine, formed on the other side by an opposite mountain, the lofty steep of which was crested by a city gently rising on a gradual slope

Etymology 2

From Middle English stepen, from Old Norse steypa (“to make stoop, cast down, pour out, cast (metal)”), from Proto-Germanic *staupijan? (“to tumble, make tumble, plunge”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)tewb- (“to push, hit”). Cognate with Danish støbe (“cast (metal)”), Norwegian støpe, støype, Swedish stöpa (“to found, cast (metal)”), Old English st?pian (“to stoop, bend the back, slope”). Doublet of stoop.

Verb

steep (third-person singular simple present steeps, present participle steeping, simple past and past participle steeped)

1. (transitive, middle) To soak or wet thoroughly.
   • 1820, William Wordsworth, Composed at Cora Linn, in sight of Wallace's Tower

     In refreshing dews to steep / The little, trembling flowers.

2. (intransitive, figuratively) To imbue with something; to be deeply immersed in.
   • 1871, John Earle, The Philology of the English Tongue

   The learned of the nation were steeped in Latin.

   • 1989, Black 47, Big Fellah:

     We fought against each other, two brothers steeped in blood / But I never doubted that your heart was broken in the flood / And though we had to shoot you down in golden Béal na mBláth / I always knew that Ireland lost her greatest son of all.

Derived terms

• insteep

Translations

Noun

steep (countable and uncountable, plural steeps)

1. A liquid used in a steeping process

   Corn steep has many industrial uses.

2. A rennet bag.

Translations

References

Anagrams

• Estep, Tepes, speet, teeps, tepes

English

Pronunciation

• enPR: daus, IPA^(key): /da?s/
• Rhymes: -a?s

Etymology 1

Probably of North Germanic origin, related to Swedish dunsa (“to plumb down, fall clumsily”), Danish dunse (“to thump”). Compare Old English dw?s?an (“to extinguish”) and douse below.

Alternative forms

• dowse, douze, douce, dause (all obsolete or nonstandard)

Verb

douse (third-person singular simple present douses, present participle dousing, simple past and past participle doused)

2. (transitive, intransitive) To plunge suddenly into water; to duck; to immerse.
3. (intransitive) To fall suddenly into water.
4. (transitive) To put out; to extinguish.
   • 1999, Arthur D. Jacobs, The Prison Called Hohenasperg

     The man who doused the fire was told to put the remainder of the coal into the bucket and then give the bucket to the soldier.

   • Kelly Henderson, Your Mythic Spirit Guide: Spirituality for a Creative Life

     Once you feel confident in your visualizations, you may douse the candle by blowing it out.

Translations

Noun

douse (plural douses)

1. A sudden plunging into water.
   • 1911, Cyphers Series on Practical Poultry Keeping (issue 1, page 74)

     In winter a douse in cold water helps the looks and adds to the style of the carcass, but they should be thoroughly dried before packing.

Etymology 2

From Middle English duschen, dusshen (“to rush, fall”), related to Norwegian dusa (“to break, cast down from”), Old Dutch doesen (“to beat, strike”), dialectal German tusen, dusen (“to strike, run against, collide”), Saterland Frisian dössen (“to strike”). Compare doss, dust.

Alternative forms

• dowse

Verb

douse (third-person singular simple present douses, present participle dousing, simple past and past participle doused)

2. (transitive) To strike, beat, or thrash.
3. (transitive, nautical) To strike or lower in haste; to slacken suddenly

   Douse the topsail!

Translations

Noun

douse (plural douses)

2. A blow or stroke, especially to the face.

Anagrams

• oused

Middle English

Noun

douse

1. Alternative form of douce