Dive
/daɪv/noun
To plunge headfirst into water or move quickly downward; also, to investigate or immerse oneself deeply.
Did you know?English **dive** is related to a whole family of old words about plunging and falling, and its deeper history traces back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “to dip, wash, or immerse.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dheub-
“to dip, sink, or plunge into water”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*deupjaną
“to make dip or plunge”
Old English
OE
dūfan
“to plunge, sink, or submerge”
Middle English
ME
diven
“to plunge or sink down”
Modern English
English
dive
“to plunge into water or descend rapidly”