drowning

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Drown \Drown\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Drowned}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Drowning}.] [OE. drunen, drounen, earlier drunknen,
   druncnien, AS. druncnian to be drowned, sink, become drunk,
   fr. druncen drunken. See {Drunken}, {Drink}.]
   To be suffocated in water or other fluid; to perish in water.
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         Methought, what pain it was to drown.    --Shak.
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