Soak v.

Forms: 1 socian, 4–8 soke, 6–7 soake, 7– soak. Also pa. pple. 6–7 soken, 8–9 soaken. [OE. socian, f. the weak grade of the stem represented by súcan to SUCK, = WFlem. soken and zoken (De Bo).

  The following are examples of the strong pa. pple. (see also SOAKEN ppl. a.):—

1586.  Bright, Melanch., xiv. 72. Whose braines are soken.

1597.  J. King, On Jonas (1618), 176. Dirt soken with blood.

1633.  P. Fletcher, Poet. Misc., Ps. cxxxvii. Our heart-strings broken, Throats drown’d, and soken With tears.

1793.  Smeaton, Edystone L., § 196. So that the pores might be thoroughly soaken with water.

1886.  J. Ashby-Sterry, Lazy Minstrel, 126. Shiny is each mackintosh, Each hat and coat well soaken.]

  I.  intr. 1. To lie immersed in a liquid for a considerable time, so as to be saturated or permeated with it; to become thoroughly wet or soft in this manner.

  c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., II. 240. Dweorʓe dwostlan weorp on weallende wæter, læt socian on lange. Ibid., 252. Asete þonne on hate sunnan … þæt hit sipiʓe & sociʓe.

  c. 1440.  [see SOAKING vbl. sb. 1].

1674.  Brevint, Saul at Endor, 314. The other water which did cure the Palsie, when the little Image of Montague … had soakt in it.

1687.  Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., s.v., To lay a Thing a-soking.

1707.  Curios. in Husb. & Gard., 313. The Sea, in which they soak every Tide.

1833.  J. Rennie, Alph. Angling, 68. Before using them let them soak about half an hour in water.

1853.  Soyer, Pantroph., 160. As soon as the goose was killed, the liver was put to soak in milk and honey.

1889.  Science-Gossip, XXV. 234. A spoonful of water in which a clove of garlic has soaked for half an hour.

  b.  transf. and fig.

a. 1510.  Douglas, K. Hart, I. xx. Ryse, fresch Delyte, lat nocht this mater soke.

1687.  Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., I. s.v. Mitonner, This Potage must be kept soaking upon a Chafing-dish, or the like.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 65, ¶ 8. Because it is Vulgar to Lye and Soak together, we have each of us our several Settle-Bed.

a. 1791.  Wesley, Serm., xcviii. (1825), II. 475. By soaking (as it is emphatically called) so long between warm sheets, the flesh … becomes soft and flabby.

1843.  Holtzapffel, Turning, I. 241. The work … should be allowed ample time to get hot, or as it is called, to ‘soak.’

1874.  J. W. Long, Amer. Wild-fowl, viii. 142. Now, put these little hints ‘to soak,’ as they say out here.

  c.  To allow moisture to percolate. rare^–1.

1688.  Phil. Trans., XVII. 981. It being Sandy Land, soaks and drains admirably well.

  2.  To percolate; to penetrate by saturation or infiltration; to ooze. Also with in, through, etc.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 463/2. Sokyn yn, as lycure yn dyuerse þyngys, or drynkyn yn.

1573.  Tusser, Husb. (1878), 47. For weede and the water so soketh and sucks, that [etc.].

1587.  Gascoigne, Flowers, etc. Wks. 1907, I. 116. [Floods of tears] Whose fountaine … soketh so, that all my face is styll on flowe.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 188. When the rain descended, it filled the horns, and soked to the root of the Vine.

1657.  Austen, Fruit Trees, I. 64. A Barrow full of Rotten Muck,… the fatnesse whereof will soke in among the roots.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 677. If Sweat remains Unwash’d, and soaks into the empty Veins.

1726.  Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., I. 74/2. The Structure … may … be rotted by the moisture lying continually soaking upon it.

1776.  G. Semple, Building in Water, 42. The Pit … quite free from Water, except some small Quantity that soaked from the Bed of the River.

1815.  Scott, Guy M., xxiii. A narrow channel, through which soaked, rather than flowed, a small stagnant stream.

1884.  Law Times Rep., LI. 229/2. The water … soaked under the wall and wetted the mud below it.

  b.  fig.

1583.  Golding, Calvin on Deut., xiii. 14 b. God will make them to soke away like water.

1599.  Breton, Miseries of Mamillia, Wks. (Grosart), II. 36/1. Sorrow sokes long ere it slayes.

1642.  D. Rogers, Naaman, 3. The grace of that spirit … might soke and sinke into the soules of men.

1675.  J. Smith, Chr. Relig. Appeal, II. 6. To repel the thought of future Judgment, from soaking into the spirits.

1881.  Times, 21 May, 11/4. The controversialists have separated to give time for them to soak into the minds and consciences of nations and their statesmen.

  † c.  Of currents: To flow slowly. Obs.

1699.  Dampier, Voy., II. III. viii. 103. The Sea-Breezes and the Currents, that soak down between Africa and Brazil.

  d.  With cognate obj.: To make (way) by percolation.

1815.  Scott, Guy M., xxviii. The rivulet beneath … soaked its way obscurely through wreaths of snow.

1883.  Stevenson, Treasure Isl., xiv. The nearest of the little rivers soaked its way into the anchorage.

  3.  To drink immoderately; to saturate oneself with liquor.

1687.  A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 78. You keep soaking in Taverns, and come and make such Complaints to me.

1766.  Goldsm., Vicar, xxi. You do nothing but soak with the guests all day long, whereas … I never touch a drop.

1828.  Ruddiman, Sc. Parish (1889), 69. The sodger gentry … sit soaking and drinking.

1883.  A. Jessopp, in 19th Cent., Oct., 594. The shambling and scrofulous shirk whom you may find any night soaking at the pothouse.

  II.  trans. 4. Of liquid or moisture: To permeate thoroughly; to saturate with wet. Freq. in passive.

  (a)  a. 1340, c. 1440.  [see fig. below].

1544.  Phaër, Bk. Childr. (1553), S iij b. Stepe it in suffycyent rosewater, tyll it bee wel soked.

1577.  Harrison, England, II. vi. (1877), I. 156. The … barleie … is steeped in a cesterne … vntill it be throughlie soked.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, I. 567. The ground standeth not drenched and soked with water.

1671.  Milton, Samson, 1726. Let us go find the body where it lies Sok’t in his enemies blood.

1748.  Anson’s Voy., II. iv. 219. Several of her casks had rotted, and her bags were soaked through.

1796.  H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), II. 334. The herbage and the trees are soaked in water.

1876.  Bristowe, Th. & Pract. Med. (1878), 280. Not when the marshy ground is thoroughly soaked, but when, after it has been thus soaked [etc.].

  (b)  1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 187. Where … deep Galesus soaks the yellow Sands.

1784.  Cowper, Task, I. 215. When Winter soaks the fields.

1800.  trans. Legrange’s Chem., II. 303. The quantity … should be sufficient to soak the grain.

1899.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 730. Hyperidrosis … soaking the boots and stockings with a stinking material.

  b.  fig.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter iii. 5. I am soked in my synne.

c. 1440.  Generydes, 234. The kyng … was febyll and sokyd with sekenesse.

1600.  Breton, Daffodils & Primroses, Wks. (Grosart), I. 14/1. My tree of true delight is sokde with sorrow.

a. 1628.  Preston, Serm. bef. his Majestie (1630), 30. They are so soaked and surfetted with pleasures and delights, that they are not sensible of the things that belong to this life.

1902.  Mabel Barnes-Grundy, Thames Camp, 88. I am literally soaked in sunshine.

  5.  To lay or place in, to wet with, a liquid so as to produce thorough saturation; to steep.

a. 1425.  trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc. 40. It availeþ mich þat þe yuel or sore be wele fomented or soked wiþ vinegre and watre.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 463/2. Sokyn yn lycure … to be made softe.

1558.  Warde, trans. Alexis’ Secr., 39 b. Beate the Saffron in poulder, stiepe, and soke it.

1652.  J. Maine, trans. Donne’s Epigr., 94. The ground … Her Temples now steept in sea-water sokes.

1659.  H. More, Immort. Soul, III. vii. § 8. It is not unlikely, but that they soak their Vehicles in some vaporous or glutinous moisture or other.

1707.  Mortimer, Husb., 52. If you put Wormwood into the Brine you soak your Corn in.

1771.  Luckombe, Hist. Print., 350. The purpose of soaking them is only to supple them.

1831.  Davies, Mat. Med., 260. It is … covered over with lint, which is afterwards soaked with the same caustic liquid.

1892.  Photogr. Ann., II. 443. It consists in soaking the positive or negative on glass in a special solution.

  absol.  1892.  Photogr. Ann., II. 49. If you must soak be sure to go over the face of the plate with a wet pledget of cotton wool or a brush.

  b.  fig.

1648.  G. Daniel, Eclog, iii. 193. You soake your soules, and by too large a flood.

1879.  Geo. Eliot, Theo. Such, x. 183. We soak our children in habits of contempt.

1895.  Zangwill, Master, III. x. 499. He told himself he must soak himself in Paris and forget her.

  c.  refl. with reference to excessive drinking.

1818.  Scott, Rob Roy, xii. Habitual topers … acquire the power of soaking themselves with a quantity of liquor [etc.].

1891.  E. Roper, By Track & Trail, xvii. 256. Even … where people can get what they choose to drink, they do not soak themselves in beer.

  6.  To bake (bread, etc.) thoroughly. Also fig.

1686.  Goad, Celest. Bodies, vi. 22. The One baketh, the Other as it were soketh (that I may use Pastery Terms) the Fruits of the Season.

1741.  Compl. Fam.-Piece, I. ii. 133. A Haunch of 12 Pounds Weight will take up three full Hours to be well soaked.

a. 1825.  Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Soak, to bake thoroughly. It is particularly applied to bread.

1872.  De Vere, Americanisms, 548. Bread … is said ‘to be well soaked,’ if it is dry and thoroughly well baked.

  7.  colloq. or slang. a. To soak one’s clay (or † face), to drink (heavily).

1704.  in W. S. Perry, Hist. Coll. Amer. Col. Ch., I. 180. Sober and meek under disgrace,… Now he’s advanced he soaks his face.

1770.  Gentl. Mag., XL. 559. He is said to … [have] Soaked his face.

1837.  Barham, Ingol. Leg., Ser. I. Look at the Clock, iv. Mr. David Pryce had been soaking his clay.

  b.  To ply with liquor. Also in passive.

1822.  J. Banim, O’Hara Tales, Peggy Nowlan. Well? you pumped him? and soaked him?

1884.  Pall Mall Gaz., 1 Aug., 4/1. He was … so drunk he could not stand. His friend … was also pretty well soaked.

  c.  To spend (money) in drink.

1903.  Daily Chron., 31 Aug., 3/4. When you meet him give him sixpence…. He will soak it, of course, but that is long past mending.

  d.  To put (something) in pawn.

1882.  Sala, Amer. Revis. (1885), 382. ‘Soak my gems,’ and ‘Walker my rainbows.’

  e.  U.S. slang. To punish, beat, pummel, strike hard, etc.

1896.  Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch, 22 July, 1. Embezzlers Soaked. The Fines and Sentences Given the Pittsburgh Defaulters.

1904.  G. H. Lorimer, Old Gorgon Graham, 18. The unspeakable Turk hadn’t been soaked hard enough to suit him [sc. an Armenian].

  III.  8. To draw out, cause to ooze out, by means of soaking.

c. 1430.  Two Cookery-bks., 25. Take howhys of Vele, & ley hem on water to soke out þe blode.

1725.  Fam. Dict., s.v. Clear-Starching, Lay it in a dry Cloth to soak out the Sudds.

1733.  W. Ellis, Chiltern & Vale Farm., 114. Put half the Planks into Water, two or three Weeks to soak out their Sap.

1892.  Photogr. Ann., II. 179. The bichromate of potash is next soaked out by immersion in water for about four hours.

  b.  To draw or suck out.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 22 b. Sowe it with lighter seede, that soketh out lesse the substance of the ground.

1626.  Bacon, Nat. Hist., § 346. As well by Strengthning the Spirits, as by Soaking out the loose Moisture.

1846.  Landor, Imag. Conv., I. 88. The people you describe to me soak out all the juices of our dialect.

  † c.  To drain, exhaust, impoverish. Also to soak dry or up. Obs.

1577.  trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 165. And sucks & sokes the marow bones vntill they feeble waxe.

1579.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 35. Whereby they might … soake his pursse to reape commoditie.

1605.  1st Part Ieronimo, I. iii. His bounty amongst souldiers sokes him dry.

1626.  Bacon, Nat. Hist., § 480. All Plants that doe draw much Nourishment from the Earth, and so soake the Earth, and exhaust it.

1661.  Sir Harry Vane’s Politicks, 9. It fares with those … as it doth with Gaming Houses, where the Box soaks the Gamesters.

1687.  Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., II. To soke (or drain) ones Pockets, épuiser les Poches. Ibid., A Woman that sokes up a Man,… qui épuise un Homme.

  d.  To allow to drain or ooze away.

a. 1764.  Lloyd, Poet. Professors, Wks. 1774, I. 34.

  9.  To allow to sink in; to absorb; to take in by absorption.

1553.  Short Catech., in Lit. & Doctr. Edw. VI. (1844), 518. He ought … [to] endeavour himself to hear and soak into his mind the word of the Lord.

1577–87.  Holinshed, Chron., I. 16/2. Rather we follow the spider in soking the poison, than in imitating the bee by sucking the honie.

1771.  Luckombe, Hist. Print., 33. The paper … was sleeked…; and this kept it from soaking the ink.

1796.  Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), II. 33. Losing the water soaked by its Crystals.

  b.  With up.

c. 1550.  [? G. Walker], Detect. Dice-Play, D ij b. Sone after y^t this likor was … dried, & soked vp in the boies face.

1588.  Kyd, Househ. Phil., 187, Wks. (1901), 244. They soke up the superfluous humours of the earth.

1663.  Boyle, Usef. Exp. Nat. Philos., II. i. 22. Plants … dried … betwixt sheets of paper, which help to soak up the superfluous moisture.

1799.  G. Smith, Laboratory, I. 35. When dry, throw it into the composition,… and stir it about, till it has soaked it up.

1854.  Lowell, Fireside Trav. (1864), 286. One great mountain that soaked up all the rose of sunset.

  c.  To drink, imbibe, esp. to excess.

1697.  Dampier, Voy. (1729), I. 419. The Men come home fat with soaking this Liquor.

1865.  Reader, No. 117. 339/3. The London alderman who derived the name of Portsoken Ward from the quantity of Port soaked there by its hard-drinking common councilman.

  † 10.  To cause to sink in. Obs.^–1

1599.  Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 28. They cast about gently to soake and settle them in mens … consciences.