To plunge or thrust something into a substance or condition; to immerse deeply.
From em- (in) + plunge (to dive or thrust). Plunge comes from Old French plongier, ultimately from Latin plumbum (lead weight), since something plunging sinks like lead.
Medieval manuscripts loved 'emplunge' when describing soul-crushing despair—'emplunged into darkness' sounds more dramatic and deliberate than just being 'plunged,' like something actively shoved you into misery rather than you accidentally falling in.
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