Word of the Day

: October 11, 2013

sodden

adjective SAH-dun

What It Means

1 a : dull or expressionless especially from continued indulgence in alcoholic beverages

b : torpid, sluggish

2 a : heavy with or as if with moisture or water

b : heavy or doughy because of imperfect cooking

sodden in Context

Our shoes and socks were wet from trudging across the sodden field.

"But while the classic flavors were there, and the snails stayed tender, the croissant itself was sodden and insufficiently baked." - From a restaurant review by Alison Cook in The Houston Chronicle, August 21, 2013

Did You Know?

Nowadays, "seethed" is the past tense and past participle form of the verb "seethe" (which originally meant "to boil or stew"). Originally, however, "seethe" could also be conjugated in the past tense as "sod" and in the past participle as "sodden." By the 14th century, "sodden" had become an independent adjective synonymous with "boiled." And, by the 16th century, it had taken on the figurative sense used to describe someone who appears dull, expressionless, or stupid, particularly as a result of heavy drink. Today, "sodden" is commonly used as a synonym of "soaked" or "saturated." "Seethe" followed a different figurative path: while one who is sodden may appear dull, torpid, or sluggish, one who is "seething" is highly agitated, like a pot of boiling water.