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soak

1. To cause or suffer to lie in a fluid till the substance has imbibed what it can contain; to macerate in water or other liquid; to steep, as for the purpose of softening or freshening; as, to soak cloth; to soak bread; to soak salt meat, salt fish, or the like.

2. To drench; to wet thoroughly. Their land shall be soaked with blood. (isa. Xxiv. 7)

3. To draw in by the pores, or through small passages; as, a sponge soaks up water; the skin soaks in moisture.

4. To make (its way) by entering pores or interstices; often with through. The rivulet beneath soaked its way obscurely through wreaths of snow. (Sir W. Scott)

5. To absorb; to drain.

Origin: OE. Soken, AS. Socian to sioak, steep, fr. Scan, sgan, to suck. See Suck.