Drop is a contronym, it means its own opposite, and its use as “disappear” or “appear” extends waaay back. Eg. Usage as in Drop a line or drop a letter go as far as the 1700s.
So just a different line in a long history of drops.
Yeah I imagine so. From the examples there it’s either things that drop into place (dropped into town, dropped upon them, dropped ashore, dropped a goal), or from it (dropped back, dropped away, dropped from view)
Not really, it’s just more common!
Drop is a contronym, it means its own opposite, and its use as “disappear” or “appear” extends waaay back. Eg. Usage as in Drop a line or drop a letter go as far as the 1700s.
So just a different line in a long history of drops.
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/drop_v
Would “dropping” a letter not be letting it go from your hand into the mail box?
Yeah I imagine so. From the examples there it’s either things that drop into place (dropped into town, dropped upon them, dropped ashore, dropped a goal), or from it (dropped back, dropped away, dropped from view)