sag

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To sink or hang down in the middle, usually because of weight or age.

   The old shelf began to sag under the weight of the books.

2. 2
   verb

   To become weaker or less successful.

   Sales sagged during the winter months.

3. 3
   noun

   A place where something sinks or droops downward.

   There was a noticeable sag in the middle of the mattress.

From late Middle English saggen, probably of North Germanic/Scandinavian/Old Norse origin, akin to Old Norse sokkva (“to sink”), from a denasalized derivative of Proto-Germanic *sinkwaną (“to sink”). Compare Norwegian Nynorsk sagga (“move slowly”)); probably akin to Danish and Norwegian sakke, Swedish sacka, Icelandic sakka. Compare also Dutch zakken and German sacken (from Low German).

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