Drifts

Part of speech: verb, noun

Pronunciation: /dɹɪfts/

Definitions

1. The gradual process of deviating from a set course or position can involve both external influences and natural changes in direction
2. A soft and slow movement that results from forces acting on an object, often leading to reconfiguration or displacement
3. A gentle and continuous motion produced by outside forces ; a slow and progressive shift away from a previously established path or norm

Etymology: The most surprising thing about "drifts" is that it is simply the plural of "drift," a noun that began as a plain action. Old English speakers used a form like "drift" for the act of driving things along, and the word kept that sense of being pushed for centuries: Middle English speakers used it for a drove of animals, a shower of rain or snow, and an impulse. It is built from the verb "drive" with a suffix "-t," and its close relatives across the North Sea include the Dutch "drift," meaning passion or urge, and the German "Trift," which still means a drove or a pasture. The plural therefore names several things at once. Each of those ancient senses of being pushed along, whether by wind, animals, or inner urges, can be counted separately, so "drifts" can mean separate heaps of snow piled up by the wind, or several slow movements away from a course. The modern sense of gradual deviation grows naturally from the idea of something being carried off by an outside force.

Synonyms: floats, glides, sways, wanders, meanders

Antonyms: settles, stays, anchors