Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Drench

Drench , transitive verb

[Anglo-Saxon drencan to give to drink, to drench, the causal of drincan to drink; akin to Dutch drenken, Swedish dranka, German tranken. See Drink.]

1.
To cause to drink; especially, to dose by force; to put a potion down the throat of, as of a horse; hence. to purge violently by physic.
As “to fell,” is “to make to fall,” and “to lay,” to make to lie.” so “to drench,” is “to make to drink.” — Trench
2.
To steep in moisture; to wet thoroughly; to soak; to saturate with water or other liquid; to immerse.
Now dam the ditches and the floods restrain; Their moisture has already drenched the plain. — Dryden

Drench , noun

[Anglo-Saxon drenc. See Drench, transitive verb]

A drink; a draught; specifically, a potion of medicine poured or forced down the throat; also, a potion that causes purging.
A drench of wine. — Dryden
Give my roan horse a drench. — Shakespeare

Drench , noun

[Anglo-Saxon dreng warrior, soldier, akin to Icelandic drengr.]

(O. Eng. Law) A military vassal mentioned in Domesday Book. [Obsolete] — Burrill