source: Ebb Current - Beachapedia

noun (usually the ebb)

the movement of the tide out to sea:

引き潮, 下げ潮, 退潮(ebb tide)(↔ flood tide, flow)

e.g. as modifier : the ebb tide

e.g. I knew the tide would be on the ebb.

verb no object

1. (of tidewater) move away from the land; recede:

｟かたく｠ 〈潮が〉引く(away)(↔ flow)

e.g. the tide began to ebb. Compare with flow.

2. (of an emotion or quality) gradually lessen or reduce:

｟かたく｠ 〈力･人気･感情などが〉(潮が引くように)衰退［減退］する, 衰える(away)

e.g. my enthusiasm was ebbing away.

in a poor state:

e.g. the country was at a low ebb due to the recent war.

a recurrent or rhythmical pattern of coming and going or decline and regrowth:

e.g. the ebb and flow of state politics and power.

Old English ebba (noun), ebbian (verb), of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch ebbe (noun), ebben (verb), and ultimately to of which had the primary sense ‘away from’.