seep
[seep]
- to pass, flow, or ooze gradually through a porous substance: Water seeps through cracks in the wall.
- (of ideas, methods, etc.) to enter or be introduced at a slow pace: The new ideas finally seeped down to the lower echelons.
- to become diffused; permeate: Fog seeped through the trees, obliterating everything.
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- to cause to seep; filter: The vodka is seeped through charcoal to purify it.
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- moisture that seeps out; seepage.
- a small spring, pool, or other place where liquid from the ground has oozed to the surface of the earth.
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Origin of seep
1780–90; perhaps variant of dial. sipe, itself perhaps continuing Old English sīpian (cognate with Middle Low German sīpen)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for seeping
Contemporary Examples
Seeping through these explanations are the idiosyncrasies and livelihoods of their authors.
What a demon, a behemoth, evil just seems to be seeping through him.
Outside the walls, and seeping down nearby streets, are dozens of photogenic and thought-provoking visions.
After roasting, hand-grinding the beans and seeping the grinds, he hands out steaming cups.
We love the chicken on a pallet of herby, slightly sweet cornbread dressing, which imbibes all the seeping juices.
Historical Examples
And strange stories were seeping into the press of the world.
Lords of the StratosphereArthur J. Burks
Danny felt warm wetness where the blood was seeping from his ribs.
My Shipmate--ColumbusStephen Wilder
He closed his eyes as he felt the life—or whatever it was—seeping out of him.
The Memory of MarsRaymond F. Jones
Blood, seeping from it, had dribbled down his cheek and stained his collar.
The Lone Ranger RidesFran Striker
Blood, seeping from a gash across his forehead, blinded him.
The Lone Ranger RidesFran Striker
seep
- (intr) to pass gradually or leak through or as if through small openings; ooze
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- a small spring or place where water, oil, etc, has oozed through the ground
- another word for seepage
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Word Origin
Old English sīpian; related to Middle High German sīfen, Swedish dialect sipa
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for seeping
seep
v.
1790, variant of sipe (c.1500), possibly from Old English sipian "to seep," from Proto-Germanic *sip- (cf. Middle High German sifen, Dutch sijpelen "to ooze"), from PIE root *seib- "to pour out, drip, trickle" (see soap (n.)). Related: Seeped; seeping.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper