ebbed
|ebbed|
B2
/ɛb/
(ebb)
receding or declining
Etymology
Etymology Information
'ebb' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'ebba', meaning 'the flowing back of the tide' (or 'recession').
Historical Evolution
'ebb' changed from Old English 'ebba' to Middle English 'ebbe' and eventually became the modern English word 'ebb'. It is related to Dutch 'eb' and German 'Ebbe'.
Meaning Changes
Initially it meant 'the flowing back or recession of the tide'; over time it also came to mean 'a decline or lessening' in more general contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
past tense or past participle form of 'ebb' — to move away from the land (of a tide); to decline, lessen, or diminish in intensity or amount.
Public interest ebbed after the controversy.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/12/18 07:32