Picture a flat rock at the edge of the sea, just low enough that every wave runs right over it. The rock is not under the sea and not out of it; the water keeps arriving, spreading across the whole surface, and running off again. That is the picture to hold. English keeps the picture and changes what the water is made of. Rain water over a lane, spilled water over a kitchen floor, and then, once the picture goes loose, cheap calendars over every shop table or messages over an inbox. Whatever it is, it keeps coming and it covers everything.
From the word’s history
The packet's source records awash simply as a- plus wash.
來源資料對這個字的說明很短：awash 就是 a- 加上 wash（沖洗）。字面上就是「正被沖著」的狀態，剛好對上浪一次次洗過礁石那張圖。（來源附的字根樹把 a- 接到表示「不」的那一個希臘字首，與這裡的用法對不上，所以只取 a- + wash 這一句。）
packet evidence: Wiktionary etymology_text for awash (source_ref kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:532302162:12977) — 'From a- + wash.'
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