Word Study
sigh
CIDE DICTIONARY
sigh, v. i. [OE. sighen, sien; cf. also OE. siken, AS. sīcan, and OE. sighten, siten, sichten, AS. siccettan; all, perhaps, of imitative origin.].
- To inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it; to make a deep single audible respiration, especially as the result or involuntary expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, or the like. [1913 Webster]
- Hence, to lament; to grieve. [1913 Webster]"He sighed deeply in his spirit." [1913 Webster]
- To make a sound like sighing. [1913 Webster]" An extraordinary pronunciation of this word as sīth is still heard in England and among the illiterate in the United States." [1913 Webster]"And the coming wind did roar more loud,
And the sails did sigh like sedge." [1913 Webster]"The winter winds are wearily sighing." [1913 Webster]
sigh, v. t.
- To exhale (the breath) in sighs. [1913 Webster]"Never man sighed truer breath." [1913 Webster]
- To utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over. [1913 Webster]"Ages to come, and men unborn,
Shall bless her name, and sigh her fate." [1913 Webster] - To express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs. [1913 Webster]"They . . . sighed forth proverbs." [1913 Webster]"The gentle swain . . . sighs back her grief." [1913 Webster]
- A deep and prolonged audible inspiration or respiration of air, as when fatigued or grieved; the act of sighing. [1913 Webster]"I could drive the boat with my sighs." [1913 Webster]
- Figuratively, a manifestation of grief; a lan/ent. [1913 Webster]"With their sighs the air
Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
sigh, v. & n.
--v.
1 intr. emit a long deep audible breath expressive of sadness, weariness, longing, relief, etc.
2 intr. (foll. by for) yearn for (a lost person or thing).
3 tr. utter or express with sighs ('Never!' he sighed).
4 intr. (of the wind etc.) make a sound like sighing.
--n.
1 the act or an instance of sighing.
2 a sound made in sighing (a sigh of relief).
--v.
1 intr. emit a long deep audible breath expressive of sadness, weariness, longing, relief, etc.
2 intr. (foll. by for) yearn for (a lost person or thing).
3 tr. utter or express with sighs ('Never!' he sighed).
4 intr. (of the wind etc.) make a sound like sighing.
--n.
1 the act or an instance of sighing.
2 a sound made in sighing (a sigh of relief).
Etymology
ME sihen etc., prob. back-form. f. sihte past of sihen f. OE sican
THESAURUS
sigh
Aqua-Lung, ache, artificial respiration, aspirate, aspiration, asthmatic wheeze, bark, bated breath, bawl, bellow, bemoan, bewail, blare, blat, blow, blubber, boom, bray, breath, breath of air, breathe, breathe hard, breathe in, breathe out, breathing, breathy voice, broken wind, buzz, cackle, chant, chirp, coo, cough, crave, crow, deplore, dirge, drawl, dream, elegize, exclaim, exhalation, exhale, exhaust, expel, expiration, expire, exsufflation, flute, gasp, give sorrow words, grieve, groan, growl, grunt, gulp, hack, hanker, hiccup, hiss, howl, huff, hunger, inhalation, inhalator, inhale, inspiration, inspire, insufflation, iron lung, keen, knell, lament, lilt, little voice, low voice, lust, maffle, moan, moaning, mourn, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, mumble, mumbling, murmur, murmuration, murmuring, mussitate, mutter, muttering, oxygen mask, oxygen tent, pant, pine, pine for, pipe, puff, repine, respiration, respire, roar, rumble, scream, screech, scuba, shriek, sibilate, sigh for, sighing, sing, sing the blues, snap, snarl, sneeze, sniff, sniffle, snore, snoring, snort, snuff, snuffle, sob, sobbing, sock, soft voice, sorrow, sough, soughing, sound, squall, squawk, squeal, stage whisper, sternutation, stertor, still small voice, suspiration, susurrate, susurration, susurrus, thunder, trumpet, twang, underbreath, undertone, wail, warble, weep over, wheeze, whine, whining, whisper, whispering, whistle, wind, yap, yawp, yearn for, yell, yelpROGET THESAURUS
sigh
Lamentation
N lament, lamentation, wail, complaint, plaint, murmur, mutter, grumble, groan, moan, whine, whimper, sob, sigh, suspiration, heaving, deep sigh, cry, scream, howl, outcry, wail of woe, ululation, frown, scowl, tear, weeping, flood of tears, fit of crying, lacrimation, lachrymation, melting mood, weeping and gnashing of teeth, plaintiveness, languishment, condolence, mourning, weeds, willow, cypress, crape, deep mourning, sackcloth and ashes, lachrymatory, knell, deep death song, dirge, coronach, nenia, requiem, elegy, epicedium, threne, monody, threnody, jeremiad, jeremiade, ullalulla, mourner, grumbler, Noobe, Heraclitus, lamenting, in mourning, in sackcloth and ashes, sorrowing, sorrowful, mournful, tearful, lachrymose, plaintive, plaintful, querulous, querimonious, in the melting mood, threnetic, in tears, with tears in one's eyes, with moistened eyes, with watery eyes, bathed in tears, dissolved in tears, like Niobe all tears, elegiac, epicedial, de profundis, les larmes aux yeux, Int, heigh-ho!, alas!, alack!, O dear!, ah me!, woe is me!, lackadaisy!, well a day!, lack a day!, alack a day!, wellaway!, alas the day!, O tempora O mores!, what a pity!, miserabile dictu!, O lud lud!, too true!, tears standing in the eyes, tears starting from the eyes, eyes suffused, eyes swimming, eyes brimming, eyes overflowing with tears, if you have tears prepare to shed them now, interdum lacrymae pondera vocis habent, strangled his language in his tears, tears such as angels weep.VB lament, mourn, deplore, grieve, weep over, bewail, bemoan, condole with, fret, wear mourning, go into mourning, put on mourning, wear the willow, wear sackcloth and ashes, infandum renovare dolorem, give sorrow words, sigh, give a sigh, heave, fetch a sigh, waft a sigh from Indus to the pole, sigh 'like a furnace', wail, cry, weep, sob, greet, blubber, pipe, snivel, bibber, whimper, pule, pipe one's eye, drop tears, shed tears, drop a tear, shed a tear, melt into tears, burst into tears, fondre en larmes, cry oneself blind, cry one's eyes out, yammer, scream, mew, groan, moan, whine, roar, roar like a bull, bellow like a bull, cry out lustily, rend the air, frown, scowl, make a wry face, gnash one's teeth, wring one's hands, tear one's hair, beat one's breast, roll on the ground, burst with grief, complain, murmur, mutter, grumble, growl, clamor, make a fuss about, croak, grunt, maunder, deprecate, cry out before one is hurt, complain without cause.
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