Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DROWN, v.t. [Dan. drugner; Sw. dränckia; Sax. adrencan, to drown, to drench; from the root of drench and drink.]

1. Literally, to overwhelm in water; and appropriately, to extinguish life by immersion in water or other fluid; applied to animals: also, to suspend animation by submersion.
2. To overwhelm in water; as, to drown weeds.
3. To overflow; to deluge; to inundate; as, to drown land.
4. To immerse; to plunge and lose; to overwhelm; as, to drown one's self in sensual pleasure.
5. To overwhelm; to overpower. My private voice is drowned amid the senate. – Addison.