sob

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Sobbed p. pr. & vb. n. Sobbing. ] [ OE. sobben; akin to AS. seófian, siófian, to complain, bewail, seófung, siófung, sobbing, lamentation; cf. OHG. sūftōn, sūftjōn, to sigh, MHG. siuften, siufzen, G. seufzen, MHG. sūft a sigh, properly, a drawing in of breath, from sūfen to drink, OHG. sūfan. Cf. Sup. ] To sigh with a sudden heaving of the breast, or with a kind of convulsive motion; to sigh with tears, and with a convulsive drawing in of the breath. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sobbing is the same thing [ as sighing ], stronger. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

She sighed, she sobbed, and, furious with despair.
She rent her garments, and she tore her hair. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of sobbing; a convulsive sigh, or inspiration of the breath, as in sorrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

Break, heart, or choke with sobs my hated breath. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any sorrowful cry or sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

The tremulous sob of the complaining owl. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A series of short, convulsive inspirations, the glottis being suddenly closed so that little or no air enters into the lungs. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sobered p. pr. & vb. n. Sobering. ] To make sober. [ 1913 Webster ]

There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely sobers us again. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Soberer superl. Soberest. ] [ OE. sobre, F. sobre, from L. sobrius, probably from a prefix so- expressing separation + ebrius drunken. Cf. Ebriety. ] 1. Temperate in the use of spirituous liquors; habitually temperate; as, a sober man. [ 1913 Webster ]

That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of Thy holy name. Bk. of Com. Prayer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not intoxicated or excited by spirituous liquors; as, the sot may at times be sober. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Not mad or insane; not wild, visionary, or heated with passion; exercising cool, dispassionate reason; self-controlled; self-possessed. [ 1913 Webster ]

There was not a sober person to be had; all was tempestuous and blustering. Druden. [ 1913 Webster ]

No sober man would put himself into danger for the applause of escaping without breaking his neck. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Not proceeding from, or attended with, passion; calm; as, sober judgment; a man in his sober senses. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Serious or subdued in demeanor, habit, appearance, or color; solemn; grave; sedate. [ 1913 Webster ]

What parts gay France from sober Spain? Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

See her sober over a sampler, or gay over a jointed baby. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Twilight gray
Had in her sober livery all things clad. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Grave; temperate; abstinent; abstemious; moderate; regular; steady; calm; quiet; cool; collected; dispassionate; unimpassioned; sedate; staid; serious; solemn; somber. See Grave. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To become sober; -- often with down. [ 1913 Webster ]

Vance gradually sobered down. Ld. Lytton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. To sober. [ R. ] Crabbe. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a sober manner; temperately; cooly; calmly; gravely; seriously. [ 1913 Webster ]