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Webster 1913 Edition

Sigh

Sigh

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Sighed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Sighing
.]
[OE.
sighen
,
si[GREEK]en
; cf. also OE.
siken
, AS.
sīcan
, and OE.
sighten
,
si[GREEK]ten
,
sichten
, AS.
siccettan
; all, perhaps, of imitative origin.]
1.
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.
2.
Hence, to lament; to grieve.
He
sighed
deeply in his spirit.
Mark viii. 12.
3.
To make a sound like sighing.
And the coming wind did roar more loud,
And the sails did
sigh
like sedge.
Coleridge.
The winter winds are wearily
sighing
.
Tennyson.
☞ An extraordinary pronunciation of this word as sīth is still heard in England and among the illiterate in the United States.

Sigh

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To exhale (the breath) in sighs.
Never man
sighed
truer breath.
Shakespeare
2.
To utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over.
Ages to come, and men unborn,
Shall bless her name, and
sigh
her fate.
Pior.
3.
To express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs.
They . . .
sighed
forth proverbs.
Shakespeare
The gentle swain . . .
sighs
back her grief.
Hoole.

Sigh

,
Noun.
[OE.
sigh
; cf. OE.
sik
. See
Sigh
,
Verb.
I.
]
1.
A deep and prolonged audible inspiration or respiration of air, as when fatigued or grieved; the act of sighing.
I could drive the boat with my
sighs
.
Shakespeare
2.
Figuratively, a manifestation of grief; a lan[GREEK]ent.
With their
sighs
the air
Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite.
Milton.

Webster 1828 Edition

Sigh

SIGH

,
Verb.
I.
To inhale a larger quantity of air than usual and immediately expel it; to suffer a single deep respiration. He sighed deeply in his spirit. Mark 8.

SIGH

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To lament; to mourn. Ages to come and men unborn Shall bless her name and sigh her fate.
2.
To express by sighs. The gentle swain-sighs back her grief.

SIGH

,
Noun.
A single deep respiration; a long breath; the inhaling of larger quantity of air than usual, and the sudden emission of it. This is an effort of nature to dilate the lungs and give vigor to the circulation of the blood, when the action of the heart and arteries is languid from grief, depression of spirits, weakness or want of exercise. Hence sighs are indications of grief of debility.

Definition 2024

sigh

sigh

English

Noun

sigh ‎(plural sighs)

  1. A deep, prolonged audible inhale and exhale of breath; as when fatigued, frustrated, grieved, or relieved; the act of sighing.
  2. Figuratively, a manifestation of grief; a lament.
  3. (Cockney rhyming slang) A person who is bored.

Translations

Verb

sigh ‎(third-person singular simple present sighs, present participle sighing, simple past and past participle sighed)

  1. (intransitive) 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, frustration, or the like.
    • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 5, in The China Governess:
      A waiter brought his aperitif, which was a small scotch and soda, and as he sipped it gratefully he sighed.
         ‘Civilized,’ he said to Mr. Campion. ‘Humanizing.’ […] ‘Cigars and summer days and women in big hats with swansdown face-powder, that's what it reminds me of.’
    When she saw it wasn't damaged, she sighed with relief.‎
    He sighed. It was going to be a long night.‎
    He sighed over the lost opportunity.‎
  2. (intransitive) To lament; to grieve.
    • Bible, Mark viii. 12
      He sighed deeply in his spirit.
  3. (intransitive, transitive) To utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over.
    • Prior
      Ages to come, and men unborn, / Shall bless her name, and sigh her fate.
  4. (intransitive) To experience an emotion associated with sighing.
    He silently sighed for his lost youth.‎
  5. (intransitive) To make a sound like sighing.
    • Coleridge
      And the coming wind did roar more loud, / And the sails did sigh like sedge.
    • Tennyson
      The winter winds are wearily sighing.
  6. (transitive) To exhale (the breath) in sighs.
    She sighed a sigh that was nearly a groan.‎
    sigh a note and sing a note‎
    • Shakespeare
      Never man sighed truer breath.
  7. (transitive) To express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs.
    "I guess I have no choice," she sighed.‎
    She sighed her frustrations.‎
    • Shakespeare
      They […] sighed forth proverbs.
    • Hoole
      The gentle swain […] sighs back her grief.

Translations

Interjection

sigh

  1. An expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration, or the like, often used in casual written contexts.
    Sigh, I'm so bored at work today.

Translations

Anagrams

Etymology

From Middle English sihen, from Old English sīcan. (The OE infinitive would have given ME forms with /tʃ/ or /k/, which are both attested, so the /h/ form is probably a back-formation from the preterite sihte.)

Pronunciation

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