melt

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melt liquefy or be liquefied by heat. OE. (1) str. vb. me(a)ltan :- Gmc. *meltan, (2) wk. vb. (Angl.) meltan, (WS.) mieltan = ON. melta digest, malt (grain):- Gmc. *maltjan (cf. ON. maltr rotten, OHG. malz melting, Goth. gamalteins dissolution). The base *melt- *malt- *mult- repr. IE. *meld- *mold- *mll̇d-, whence Gr. méldein melt, L. mollis, Skr. mrl̇dú soft. The str. pp. molten survives as adj.

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