Deepen
/ˈdiː.pən/noun
To make or become deep, intense, or more profound.
Did you know?“Deepen” is built from the ancient Germanic root *deupaz, the same root behind words for depth and abyss-like distance, so even ordinary speech carries the idea of sinking inward.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰewb-
“to be deep, hollow, or sunk down”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*deupaz
“deep, hollow, not shallow”
Old English
English
dēop
“deep; profound; far down”
Middle English
English
depnen
“to make deep, to sink lower”
Modern English
English
deepen
“to make or become deeper or more intense”