— drencher , n. — drenchingly , adv.
/drench/ , v.t.
1. to wet thoroughly; soak.
2. to saturate by immersion in a liquid; steep.
3. to cover or fill completely; bathe: trees drenched with sunlight.
4. Vet. Med. to administer a draft of medicine to (an animal), esp. by force: to drench a horse.
5. Archaic. to cause to drink.
n.
6. the act of drenching.
7. something that drenches: a drench of rain.
8. a preparation for drenching or steeping.
9. a solution, esp. one of fermenting bran, for drenching hides or skins.
10. a large drink or draft.
11. a draft of medicine, esp. one administered to an animal by force.
12. Hort. a mixture of pesticide and water applied to the soil surrounding a plant.
[ bef. 900; ME drenchen, OE drencan, causative of drincan to DRINK; c. D drenken, G tränken to water, give to drink ]
Syn. 1. See wet .