King James Bible Dictionary

SINK, verb intransitive preterit tense sunk; participle passive id. The old preterit tense sank is nearly obsolete.

1. To fall by the force of greater gravity, in a medium or substance of less specific gravity; to subside; opposed to swim or float. Some species of wood or timber will sink in water. Oil will not sink in water and many other liquids, for it is specifically lighter. I sink in deep mire. Psalms 69:2.

2. To fall gradually. He sunk down in his chariot, II Kings 9.

3. To enter or penetrate into any body. The stone sunk into his forehead. I Sam. 17.

4. To fall; to become lower; to subside or settle to a level. The Alps and Pyrenees sink before him.

5. To be overwhelmed or depressed. Our country sinks beneath the yoke.

6. To enter deeply; to be impressed. Let these sayings sink down into your ears. Luke 9:44.

7. To become deep; to retire or fall within the surface of any thing; as, the eyes sink into the head.

8. To fall; to decline; to decay; to decrease. A free state gradually sinks into ruin. It is the duty of government to revive a sinking commerce. Let not the fire sink or slacken.

9. To fall into rest or indolence; as, to sink away in pleasing dreams.

10. To be lower; to fall; as, the price of land will sink in time of peace.

SINK, verb transitive

1. To put under water; to immerse in a fluid; as, to sink a ship.

2. To make by digging or delving; as, to sink a pit or a well.

3. To depress; to degrade. His vices sink him in infamy, or in public estimation.

4. To plunge into destruction. If I have a conscience, let it sink me.

5. To cause to fall or to be plunged.

6. To bring low; to reduce in quantity. You sunk the river with repeated draughts.

7. To depress; to overbear; to crush. This would sink the spirit of a hero.

8. To diminish; to lower or lessen; to degrade. I mean not that we should sink our figure out of covetousness.

9. To cause to decline or fail. Thy cruel and unnat'ral lust of power has sunk thy father more than all his years.

10. To suppress; to conceal; to intervert. If sent with ready money to buy any thing, and you happen to be out of pocket, sink the money, and take up the goods on account. [Unusual.]

11. To depress to lower in value or amount. Great importations may sink the price of goods.

12. To reduce; to pay; to diminish or annihilate by payment; as, to sink the nation debt.

13. To waste; to dissipate; as, to sink an estate.

SINK, noun

1. A drain to carry off filthy water; a jakes.

2. A kind of bason of stone or wood to receive filthy water.

SINK'ING, participle present tense Falling; subsiding; depressing; declining. sinking fund, in fiance, a fund created for sinking or paying a public debt, or purchasing the stock for the government.