submerge
UK: səbˈmɜːdʒ | US: səbˈmɜːrdʒ
vt. to put or sink below the surface of water or another liquid
vt. to cover or hide completely
vi. to sink below the surface of a liquid
submerge = sub<under> + merge<dip, sink>
- sub<under>: From Latin sub, meaning "under, below." Commonly used in English prefixes (e.g., subway, submarine).
- merge<dip, sink>: From Latin mergere, meaning "to dip, immerse, or plunge." The root appears in words like immerse and emerge.
Etymology Origin:
The word submerge directly combines Latin sub (under) and mergere (to dip), forming a verb that literally means "to plunge under." It entered English in the early 17th century, retaining its original sense of immersion in liquid. Over time, it gained figurative uses, such as "to overwhelm" or "to hide completely," reflecting the idea of being buried beneath something.
The diver will submerge himself in the ocean to study coral reefs.
Heavy rains caused the river to submerge nearby farmland.
She submerged her hands in warm water to soothe the pain.
The city was submerged in darkness after the power outage.
His feelings of guilt were submerged beneath a calm exterior.