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Webster 1913 Edition

Plunge

Plunge

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Plunged
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Plunging
.]
[OE.
ploungen
, OF.
plongier
, F.
plonger
, fr. (assumed) LL.
plumbicare
, fr. L.
plumbum
lead. See
Plumb
.]
1.
To thrust into water, or into any substance that is penetrable; to immerse; to cause to penetrate or enter quickly and forcibly; to thrust;
as, to
plunge
the body into water; to
plunge
a dagger into the breast
. Also used figuratively;
as, to
plunge
a nation into war
.
“To plunge the boy in pleasing sleep.”
Dryden.
Bound and
plunged
him into a cell.
Tennyson.
We shall be
plunged
into perpetual errors.
I. Watts.
2.
To baptize by immersion.
3.
To entangle; to embarrass; to overcome.
[Obs.]
Plunged
and graveled with three lines of Seneca.
Sir T. Browne.

Plunge

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To thrust or cast one’s self into water or other fluid; to submerge one's self; to dive, or to rush in;
as, he
plunged
into the river
. Also used figuratively;
as, to
plunge
into debt
.
Forced to
plunge
naked in the raging sea.
Dryden.
To
plunge
into guilt of a murther.
Tillotson.
2.
To pitch or throw one's self headlong or violently forward, as a horse does.
Some wild colt, which . . . flings and
plunges
.
Bp. Hall.
3.
To bet heavily and with seeming recklessness on a race, or other contest; in an extended sense, to risk large sums in hazardous speculations.
[Cant]
Plunging fire
(Gun.)
,
firing directed upon an enemy from an elevated position.

Plunge

,
Noun.
1.
The act of thrusting into or submerging; a dive, leap, rush, or pitch into, or as into, water;
as, to take the water with a
plunge
.
2.
Hence, a desperate hazard or act; a state of being submerged or overwhelmed with difficulties.
[R.]
She was brought to that
plunge
, to conceal her husband's murder or accuse her son.
Sir P. Sidney.
And with thou not reach out a friendly arm,
To raise me from amidst this
plunge
of sorrows?
Addison.
3.
The act of pitching or throwing one's self headlong or violently forward, like an unruly horse.
4.
Heavy and reckless betting in horse racing; hazardous speculation.
[Cant]
Plunge bath
,
an immersion by plunging; also, a large bath in which the bather can wholly immerse himself.
–
Plunge battery
, or
plunging battery
(Elec.)
,
a voltaic battery so arranged that the plates can be plunged into, or withdrawn from, the exciting liquid at pleasure.

Webster 1828 Edition

Plunge

PLUNGE

, v.t.
1.
To thrust into water or other fluid substance, or into any substance that is penetrable; to immerse in a fluid; to drive into flesh, mire or earth, &c.; as, to plunge the body in water; to plunge the arm into fire or flame; to plunge a dagger into the breast.
2.
To thrust or drive into any state in which the thing is considered as enveloped or surrounded; as, to plunge one's self into difficulties or distress; to plunge a nation into war.
3.
To baptize by immersion.

PLUNGE

,
Verb.
I.
To pitch; to thrust or drive one's self into water or a fluid; to dive or to rush in. He plunged into the river.
The troops plunged into the stream.
His courser plung'd,
And threw him off; the waves whelm'd over him.
1.
To fall or rush into distress or any state or circumstances in which the person or thing is enveloped, inclosed or overwhelmed; as, to plunge into a gulf; to plunge into debt or embarrassments; to plunge into war; a body of cavalry plunged into the midst of the enemy.
2.
To pitch or throw one's self headlong.

PLUNGE

,
Noun.
The act of thrusting into water or any penetrable substance.
1.
Difficulty; strait; distress; a state of being surrounded or overwhelmed with difficulties.
People when put to a plunge, cry out to heaven for help.
And wilt thou not reach out a friendly arm,
To raise me from amidst this plunge of sorrow?
[In this sense, the word is now little used.]

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