- #1
- 19,442
- 10,021
Connect these three: Drain, Stem, Stew.
These three words are connected by a common meaning of removing or extracting something. Drain refers to removing liquid, stem refers to removing the stem of a plant, and stew refers to extracting flavor from ingredients by cooking in liquid.
From a scientific perspective, drain, stem, and stew are connected by the process of osmosis. This is the movement of liquid through a semi-permeable membrane, such as the skin of a plant or the cell walls of ingredients in a stew, in order to reach an equilibrium. In the case of drain, the liquid is being removed from a container, while in the case of stew, the liquid is being absorbed by the ingredients.
Yes, there is a linguistic connection between these three words. They all have origins in Old English and share the same root word "drian", which means to filter or strain. This root word evolved into "drain" and "stew" in the modern English language, while "stem" comes from the Old Norse word "staf", meaning a staff or rod used for support.
Sure, "drain" can be used in a plumbing context, such as "the sink is clogged, we need to drain it." "Stem" can be used in a horticulture context, such as "I need to cut the stems of these flowers before putting them in a vase." "Stew" can be used in a culinary context, such as "I'm going to stew these vegetables to make a flavorful broth."
Yes, there are several idiomatic expressions that use these words. "Drain the swamp" means to get rid of corruption or problems in a particular situation. "Stem the tide" means to stop or slow down a trend or force. "Stew in your own juices" means to suffer the consequences of your own actions.