subside

 
Pronunciation: /səbˈsʌɪd/

verb

[no object]
  • 1become less intense, violent, or severe: I’ll wait a few minutes until the storm subsides
  • lapse into silence or inactivity: Fergus opened his mouth to protest again, then subsided
  • (subside in/into) give way to (an overwhelming feeling, especially laughter): Anthony and Mark subsided into mirth
  • 2(of water) go down to a lower or the normal level: the floods subside almost as quickly as they arise
  • (of the ground) cave in; sink: the island is subsiding
  • (of a building or other structure) sink lower into the ground: a ditch which caused the tower to subside slightly
  • (of a swelling) reduce until gone: it took seven days for the swelling to subside completely
  • [no object, with adverbial] sink into a sitting, kneeling, or lying position: Patrick subsided into his seat

Origin:

late 17th century: from Latin subsidere, from sub- 'below' + sidere 'settle' (related to sedere 'sit')