An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. (v.intr.) To become combined, united, swallowed up, or absorbed; lose identity by uniting or blending.
   

2. (v.tr.) To cause to combine or coalesce. To combine, blend, or unite gradually so as to blur the individuality or individual identity of.
   Related terms: → fuse, → coalesce. See also → merger, → mergeburst, → merger process, → merger tree, → merging, → merging galaxy, → minor merger, → mixed merger, → wet merger.

Etymology (EN): From L. mergere “to dip, immerse,” probably rhotacized from *mezgo, and cognate with Skt. majj- “to dive, to sink,” majjati “dives under;” Lith. mazgoju “to wash.”

Etymology (PE): Taškidan, taškândan, from Gilaki tašk “tie, knot;” Tabari tešk “knot”

• -idan infinitive suffix.