Definition of dense

The word "dense" has its origins in Old English, where it was spelled "denc" or "dince". It was derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*dinkiz", which is also the source of the Modern German word "dicht". The Proto-Germanic word is thought to have been derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*denk-", which meant "to stick together". In Old English, the word "denc" initially meant "thick" or "compact", and was used to describe physical substances, such as earth or soil. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include concepts such as crowded, close, or thickly set, which is how we use the word today. For example, "dense fog" or "dense population". The word has retained its original meaning of "thick" or "compact", but its usage has become more diverse over time.