Drench

Pronunciation

• IPA: /dɹɛntʃ/
• Rhymes: -É›ntʃ

Middle English drenchen, from Old English drenċan, from Proto-Germanic *drankijaną (compare Dutch drenken ‘to get a drink’, German tränken ‘to water, give a drink’), causative of *drinkaną ("to drink"). More at drink.

Full definition of drench

Noun

1. A draught administered to an animal.
2. (obsolete) A drink; a draught; specifically, a potion of medicine poured or forced down the throat; also, a potion that causes purging.
• DrydenA drench of wine.
• ShakespeareGive my roan horse a drench.

Verb

1. To soak, to make very wet.
• DrydenNow dam the ditches and the floods restrain;
  Their moisture has already drenched the plain.
2. To cause to drink; especially, to dose (e.g. a horse) with medicine by force.

Related terms

• drenched

Anglo-Saxon dreng warrior, soldier, akin to Icelandic drengr.

Noun

1. (obsolete, UK) A military vassal, mentioned in the Domesday Book.