Waterproofing

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. The process of treating or sealing objects to prevent water penetration ; a substance or coating applied to surfaces to stop water from passing through
2. Actions taken to protect items from moisture by sealing or covering them ; a product used to create a barrier against water damage
3. The method by which materials are made impervious to water ; a waterproofing agent or layer that ensures water does not enter

Etymology: "Waterproofing" is the gerund and present participle of the verb "waterproof," so its story is really the story of the verb and its parts. "Water" is the familiar Old English word, and "-proof" is a suffix that has been part of English for centuries, meaning "resistant to" or "impervious to" whatever comes before it. Put together, "waterproof" means impervious to water, and the -ing forms describe the act of making something that way. The suffix is the more interesting half. "-proof" comes from the adjective "proof," meaning a test or trial, as in "proof" of strength, and it came to mean something that has passed such a test and holds up against a force. That is why words like "bulletproof" and "fireproof" share the same ending. "Waterproof" follows this pattern exactly, and it sits alongside similar formations in Dutch and West Frisian, which use cognate words for the same idea.

Synonyms: impermeability, sealant, protection, coating, insulation