subsided

Subsided is the past tense and past participle of the verb subside. It describes a state in which something that was elevated, active, or intense has fallen to a lower level, or a situation has become less intense, less violent, or less prominent. The term can refer to physical movement, such as land, structures, or water, as well as to abstract changes like emotions or noise.

Etymology and usage notes: subside derives from Latin subsidere, from sub- meaning under and sedere meaning to sit. In modern English, subside is often used to indicate a return to normalcy after a disturbance, such as a storm, flood, crowd noise, or a tense moment. The form subsided is commonly paired with time phrases: "The floodwaters subsided overnight," "The tension finally subsided," or "The rain subsided in the afternoon." The noun form related to the process is subsidence, which describes the act or result of sinking or settling.

Contexts: In physical contexts, subsidence describes the gradual sinking of land, often due to natural compaction, groundwater extraction, or mining, and can affect buildings and infrastructure. In hydrology or meteorology, it refers to water levels decreasing after a flood or storm. In everyday language, it is used for reduced intensity or activity, such as a loud event or heated argument becoming calm or quiet.

See also: subside, subsidence, subsiding.