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in or into a state of sleep:
He fell asleep quickly.
into a dormant or inactive state; to rest:
Their anxieties were put asleep.
into the state of death.
sleeping:
He is asleep.
dormant; inactive.
(of the foot, hand, leg, etc.) numb.
.
Contemporary Examples

MacDonald told military investigators that he had been asleep on the couch when he was awakened by screams.
Errol Morris’s “A Wilderness of Error” Revisits Jeffrey MacDonald Case Raymond Bonner August 29, 2012

Some photographs show women who look like they may be asleep, unconscious, or dead.
New Clue in Grim Sleeper Case: Victim’s Photo Identified Christine Pelisek December 16, 2010

“I live in a house that creaks, and when I am asleep and hear that groan, it reminds me that I am back in the mine,” said Avalos.
Chilean Miners Fight Their Demons Jonathan Franklin October 9, 2011

But never before have we seen the Walking Haircut in such state of intimacy: asleep.
This Is What Justin Bieber Looks Like Sleeping, Taken by a Groupie (VIDEO) Kevin Fallon November 6, 2013

When the attack began, Shahab Khan was asleep in his room near the front gate, just inside the jail.
Pakistani Taliban Jailbreak: An Inside Job? Ron Moreau & Sami Yousafzai April 16, 2012

Historical Examples

Noémi took Michael’s arm and led him into the room where the boy was asleep.
Timar’s Two Worlds Mr Jkai

Did you suppose I was asleep there, or writing poetry all alone, or what?
Deerbrook Harriet Martineau

Then you were pretending to be asleep when I entered your room?
Murder at Bridge Anne Austin

Maria lay still, as if asleep, but wide awake and listening.
Deerbrook Harriet Martineau

I soon tuk aff me, an’ was asleep in no time; but in less than half an hour I had a most wonderful drame.
Bentley’s Miscellany, Volume II Various

adjective (postpositive)
in or into a state of sleep
in or into a dormant or inactive state
(of limbs, esp when the blood supply to them has been restricted) numb; lacking sensation
(euphemistic) dead
adj.

c.1200, aslepe, o slæpe, from Old English on slæpe (see sleep). The parallel form on sleep continued until c.1550. Of limbs, “numb through stoppage of circulation,” from late 14c. Meaning “inattentive, off guard” is from mid-14c.

asleep a·sleep (ə-slēp’)
adj.

In a state of sleep; sleeping.

Numb, as of a limb.

Dead.

adv.

In or into a state of sleep.

In or into a state of apathy or indifference.

Into the sleep of the dead.

In addition to the idiom beginning with asleep also see: fall asleep