seep

Definition

To ooze or pass slowly through pores or other small openings, and in overly small quantities; said of liquids, etc.

Etymology

Variant of sipe, from Middle English *sipen, from Old English sipian, from Proto-Germanic *sipōną, derivative of *sīpaną, from Proto-Indo-European *seyb-, *sib- (“to pour out, drip, trickle”). See also Middle Dutch sīpen (“to drip”), German Low German siepern (“to seep”), archaic German seifen (“to trickle blood”); also Latin sēbum (“suet, tallow”), Ancient Greek εἴβω (eíbō, “to drop, drip”)). See soap.

Example Sentences

• "Water has seeped through the roof."
• "The water steadily seeped in through the thirl."
• "Woe seeped through her heart thinking of what had befallen their ethnic group."