asleep
UK: əˈsliːp | US: əˈsliːp
adj. in a state of sleep
adj. (of limbs) numb or inactive, often temporarily
The word "asleep" originates from Old English on slǣpe ("in sleep"), where the prefix a- derives from the Old English preposition on (meaning "in" or "into"). Over time, on slǣpe contracted into "asleep," retaining the core idea of being "in the state of sleep." The morpheme a- is a fossilized prefix still seen in other adjectives like afire or awake, while sleep preserves its original meaning. This evolution reflects a common pattern where prepositional phrases condense into single words.
The baby fell asleep quickly after the lullaby.
My foot is asleep from sitting too long.
The town lay asleep under the moonlight.
She pretended to be asleep when her parents checked on her.
The cat remained asleep despite the noise.