Definition of the word melt away

The origin of the phrase "melt away" dates back to the Middle English language. The verb "melt" in Old English was "smelan," which meant to smolder or smelt (to extract metal from its ore). Over time, the meaning of the word evolved to describe melting, both of solids and liquids. In its early usage, "melt" was commonly followed by the preposition "into" to indicate the transformation of a solid into a liquid. However, as the use of "melt" in this context became more widespread, the preposition became optional, as it is today. The expression "melt away" is a variation of this usage and implies that whatever is melting is also disappearing or dissolving completely. This sense of disappearance developed from the idea that melting is a process that transforms a solid into a liquid and leaves nothing behind but a puddle or pool. In fact, the verb "melt" itself can be used in this context to suggest the dissolution of something, such as "our worries melted away." This usage is especially common in descriptions of natural phenomena like snow, hail, or ice melting during warmer weather. In summary, "melt away" is derived from the older meaning of "melt" as a way to describe a process that irreversibly transforms and reduces something to nothingness. The phrase has evolved, but its origins remain grounded in the linguistic history of English.