Drag

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /dɹæɡ/

Definitions

1. To pull something along a surface with effort or friction, or to move slowly and heavily
2. To exert force to pull an object across a surface ; to proceed at a slow, laborious pace ; to make progress in a way that requires effort or causes delay
3. To tow or haul something by applying steady tension ; to move sluggishly or without energy ; to advance with resistance or struggle involved

Etymology: The verb "drag" is a case of two ancient strands tangling together. Its deepest root is a Proto-Indo-European form meaning "to draw, drag," which passed into Proto-Germanic as a verb for hauling things along. Old English "dragan" carried this sense, meaning to drag, draw, or protract, while Old Norse "draga" meant to draw or attract. English speakers of the Middle Ages blended these into "draggen," and the verb took its shape from that merger. The noun "drag," meaning something hauled or trailed behind, was tied to a Low German word for a grapnel, a grappling hook dragged along the sea floor to catch things. That noun reinforced the verb's sense of heavy pulling, so the two words grew up alongside each other. "Drag" is also a doublet of "draw," meaning the two words descend from the same root and split apart over time.

Synonyms: pull, tow, haul, draw, yank

Antonyms: push, shove, lift