GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 3 definitions

  1.       
    Drowse (drouz), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Drowsed (drouzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Drowsing.] [AS. drūsian, drūsan, to sink, become slow or inactive; cf. OD. droosen to be sleepy, fall asleep, LG. drūsen, druusken, to slumber, fall down with a noise; prob, akin to AS. dreósan to fall. See Dreary.] To sleep imperfectly or unsoundly; to slumber; to be heavy with sleepiness; to doze. “He drowsed upon his couch.”  South.

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    In the pool drowsed the cattle up to their knees. Lowell.

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  2.       
    Drowse, v. t. To make heavy with sleepiness or imperfect sleep; to make dull or stupid.  Milton.

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  3.       
    Drowse, n. A slight or imperfect sleep; a doze.

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    But smiled on in a drowse of ecstasy. Mrs. Browning.

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