lose
UK: luːz | US: luːz
vt. to no longer have something because it has been taken away or misplaced
vt. to fail to win (a game, competition, etc.)
vi. to suffer loss or disadvantage
lose = los<lost> + e (inflectional suffix)
- los<lost>: Derived from Old English los ("loss, destruction"), from Proto-Germanic lausa- ("loose, empty"). The core meaning relates to separation or absence.
- e: A common verb-ending in Middle English, now silent but historically marking inflection.
Etymology Origin:
The word "lose" traces back to Old English losian ("to perish, destroy"), rooted in the idea of becoming "loose" or detached. Over time, it narrowed to mean misplacement or failure to retain. The silent -e reflects Middle English spelling conventions. The semantic shift from physical destruction to abstract loss (e.g., losing a game) mirrors broader linguistic trends in English.
Don’t lose your keys again!
The team didn’t want to lose the championship.
She tends to lose patience quickly.
If we delay, we’ll lose our advantage.
He lost his way in the dense forest.