Drain | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Drāin, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. DRAINED; p. pr. & vb. n. DRAINING.] [A-S. dræhnigean, to drain, to strain, from dræhen, drēn, drop, tear, O. H. Ger. trahan, O. Sax. trahin, tears, Ger. thräne.]

Sense 1. To draw off by degrees; to cause to flow gradually out or off; hence, to cause the exhaustion of.

But it was not this alone that drained their treasure and hampered their industry. Motley.

Sense 2. To exhaust of liquid contents by drawing them off; to make gradually dry or empty; to deprive of moisture; hence, to exhaust; to empty of wealth, resources, or the like; as, to drain a country of its specie.

Sinking waters, the firm land to drain, Filled the capacious deep and formed the main. Roscommon.

Sense 3. To cause to pass through some porous mass or substance for the purpose of clarifying; to filter.

Salt water, drained through twenty vessels of earth, hath become fresh. Bacon.

Drāin, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. 1. To flow off gradually; as, the water of low ground drains off. 2. To be emptied of liquor by flowing or dropping; as, let the vessel stand and drain.

Drāin, n.

noun

n. 1. The act of draining, or of drawing off, or of emptying by drawing off; as, the drain of specie from a country.

That by means of which any thing is drained; a channel; a trench; a water-course; a sewer; a sink.
(pl.) The grain from the mash-tub; as brewer's drains. [Eng.] Halliwell.

Right of drain (Law), an easement or servitude by which one man has a right to convey water in pipes through or over the estate of another. Kent.