Dies by submersion in water; overwhelms or muffles sound; third person singular of drown.
From Old Norse 'drukkna' meaning 'to be drunken' or 'to be drowned,' later combined with English elements. The word maintained its water-related meaning while gaining metaphorical uses.
When we say a loud noise 'drowns out' another sound, we're using a metaphor based on actual drowning—the comparison works because both involve being overwhelmed and losing control of the situation.
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