early 15c., "to submerge, plunge" (transitive), from Latin submersus, past participle of submergere (see submerge). Modern use (18c.) might be a back-formation from submersion. Related: Submersed; submersing.
sublunary
subluxation
sub-machine-gun
submarine
submerge
submerse
submersible
submersion
submission
submissive
submit