sleep

sleep
{{11}}sleep (n.) O.E. slæp from the root of SLEEP (Cf. sleep) (v.); Cf. cognate O.S. slap, O.Fris. slep, M.Du. slæp, Du. slaap, O.H.G. slaf, Ger. Schlaf, Goth. sleps.
Personified in Latin as Somnus, in Greek as Hypnos (see SOMNOLENCE (Cf. somnolence)). Figurative use for "repose of death" was in Old English; to put (an animal) to sleep "kill painlessly" is recorded from 1923. Sleep deprivation attested from 1906. Sleep-walker "somnambulist" is attested from 1747. To be able to do something in (one's) sleep "easily" is recorded from 1953.
{{12}}sleep (v.) O.E. slæpan "to sleep" (class VII strong verb; past tense slep, pp. slæpen), from W.Gmc. *slæpanan (Cf. O.S. slapan, O.Fris. slepa, M.Du. slapen, Du. slapen, O.H.G. slafen, Ger. schlafen, Goth. slepan "to sleep"), from PIE root *sleb- "to be weak, sleep" (Cf. O.C.S. slabu, Lith. silpnas "weak"), which is perhaps connected to the root of SLACK (Cf. slack) (adj.). Sleep with "do the sex act with" is in Old English.
Gif hwa fæmnan beswice unbeweddode, and hire mid slæpe ... [Laws of King Alfred, c.900]
Sleep around first attested 1928. Sleeping sickness as a specific African tropical disease is first recorded 1875.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • sleep — [slēp] n. [ME slep < OE slæp, akin to Ger schlaf, sleep, schlaff, loose, lax < IE * slab < base * (s)leb , * (s)lab , loose, slack > LIP, LIMP1, L labor, to slip, sink] 1. a) a natural, regularly recurring condition of rest for the… …   English World dictionary

  • sleep — vb Sleep, slumber, drowse, doze, nap, catnap, snooze mean to take rest by a suspension of consciousness. Sleep, the usual term, implies ordinarily the periodical repose of this sort in which men and animals recuperate their powers after activity …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • sleep — sleep·ered; sleep·ful; sleep·ify; sleep·i·ly; sleep; sleep·i·ness; sleep·ing·ly; sleep·less; elec·tro·sleep; sleep·er; sleep·ful·ness; sleep·less·ly; sleep·less·ness; …   English syllables

  • Sleep — unix утилита, выполняющая задержку на указанное время (например, при исполнении shell сценария) Входит, например, в GNU Coreutils. Содержание 1 Использование 2 Параметры запуска 3 …   Википедия

  • sleep — unix утилита, выполняющая задержку на указанное время (например, при исполнении shell сценария) Входит, например, в GNU Coreutils. Содержание 1 Использование 2 Параметры запуска 3 …   Википедия

  • Sleep — Sleep, v. t. 1. To be slumbering in; followed by a cognate object; as, to sleep a dreamless sleep. Tennyson. [1913 Webster] 2. To give sleep to; to furnish with accomodations for sleeping; to lodge. [R.] Blackw. Mag. [1913 Webster] {To sleep… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sleep — ► NOUN 1) a regularly recurring condition of body and mind in which the nervous system is inactive, the eyes closed, the postural muscles relaxed, and consciousness practically suspended. 2) a gummy secretion found in the corners of the eyes… …   English terms dictionary

  • sleep|y — «SLEE pee», adjective, sleep|i|er, sleep|i|est. 1. ready to go to sleep; inclined to sleep: »He never gets enough rest and is always sleepy. 2. Figurative. not active; …   Useful english dictionary

  • Sleep — Sleep, n. [AS. sl[=ae]p; akin to OFries. sl[=e]p, OS. sl[=a]p, D. slaap, OHG. sl[=a]f, G. schlaf, Goth. sl[=e]ps. See {Sleep}, v. i.] A natural and healthy, but temporary and periodical, suspension of the functions of the organs of sense, as well …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sleep — Sleep, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Slept}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Sleeping}.] [OE. slepen, AS. sl?pan; akin to OFries. sl?pa, OS. sl[=a]pan, D. slapen, OHG. sl[=a]fan, G. schlafen, Goth. sl?pan, and G. schlaff slack, loose, and L. labi to glide, slide, labare …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sleep on — To consider overnight, postpone a decision on • • • Main Entry: ↑sleep * * * ˈsleep on [transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they sleep on he/she/it sleeps on present participle …   Useful english dictionary

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