Word Study
sob
CIDE DICTIONARY
sob, v. t. [See Sop.].
To soak. Mortimer. [1913 Webster]
sob, v. i. [OE. sobben; akin to AS. seófian, siófian, to complain, bewail, seófung, siófung, sobbing, lamentation; cf. OHG. s, s, to sigh, MHG. siuften, siufzen, G. seufzen, MHG. s a sigh, properly, a drawing in of breath, from s to drink, OHG. s. 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." [1913 Webster]
"She sighed, she sobbed, and, furious with despair.
She rent her garments, and she tore her hair." [1913 Webster]
She rent her garments, and she tore her hair." [1913 Webster]
sob, n.
- 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." [1913 Webster]
- Any sorrowful cry or sound. [1913 Webster]"The tremulous sob of the complaining owl." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
sob, v. & n.
--v. (sobbed, sobbing)
1 intr. draw breath in convulsive gasps usu. with weeping under mental distress or physical exhaustion.
2 tr. (usu. foll. by out) utter with sobs.
3 tr. bring (oneself) to a specified state by sobbing (sobbed themselves to sleep).
--n. a convulsive drawing of breath, esp. in weeping.
--v. (sobbed, sobbing)
1 intr. draw breath in convulsive gasps usu. with weeping under mental distress or physical exhaustion.
2 tr. (usu. foll. by out) utter with sobs.
3 tr. bring (oneself) to a specified state by sobbing (sobbed themselves to sleep).
--n. a convulsive drawing of breath, esp. in weeping.
Idiom
sob story a story or explanation appealing mainly to the emotions. sob-stuff colloq. sentimental talk or writing.
Derivative
sobber n. sobbingly adv.
Etymology
ME sobbe (prob. imit.)
THESAURUS
sob
bark, bawl, bellow, blare, blat, blubber, boohoo, boom, bray, break down, breathe, burst into tears, buzz, cackle, chant, chirp, coo, crow, cry, dissolve in tears, dolorous tirade, drawl, drone, drop a tear, exclaim, flute, gabble, gasp, gibber, greet, groan, growl, grunt, hiss, howl, jabber, jeremiad, keen, lament, lilt, maunder, moan, mouth, mumble, murmur, mutter, outcry, pant, pipe, plaint, planctus, roar, rumble, scream, screech, shed tears, shriek, sibilate, sigh, sing, snap, snarl, snivel, snort, sough, speak incoherently, splutter, sputter, squall, squawk, squeal, susurrate, thunder, tirade, trumpet, twang, ululation, wail, wail of woe, warble, weep, whimper, whine, whisper, whistle, yap, yawp, yell, yelp, yowlROGET THESAURUS
sob
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.
For further exploring for "sob" in Webster Dictionary Online
