[syn: unplayful, serious, sober]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Sober \Sober\, 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.
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That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and
sober life, to the glory of Thy holy name. --Bk. of
Com. Prayer.
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2. Not intoxicated or excited by spirituous liquors; as, the
sot may at times be sober.
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3. Not mad or insane; not wild, visionary, or heated with
passion; exercising cool, dispassionate reason;
self-controlled; self-possessed.
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There was not a sober person to be had; all was
tempestuous and blustering. --Druden.
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No sober man would put himself into danger for the
applause of escaping without breaking his neck.
--Dryden.
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4. Not proceeding from, or attended with, passion; calm; as,
sober judgment; a man in his sober senses.
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5. Serious or subdued in demeanor, habit, appearance, or
color; solemn; grave; sedate.
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What parts gay France from sober Spain? --Prior.
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See her sober over a sampler, or gay over a jointed
baby. --Pope.
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Twilight gray
Had in her sober livery all things clad. --Milton.
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Syn: Grave; temperate; abstinent; abstemious; moderate;
regular; steady; calm; quiet; cool; collected;
dispassionate; unimpassioned; sedate; staid; serious;
solemn; somber. See Grave.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Sober \So"ber\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sobered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Sobering.]
To make sober.
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There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely sobers us again. --Pope.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Sober \So"ber\, v. i.
To become sober; -- often with down.
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Vance gradually sobered down. --Ld. Lytton.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
sober
adj 1: not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
[ant: drunk, inebriated, intoxicated]
2: dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to
keeping promises; "a grave God-fearing man"; "a quiet sedate
nature"; "as sober as a judge"; "a solemn promise"; "the
judge was solemn as he pronounced sentence" [syn: grave,
sedate, sober, solemn]
3: lacking brightness or color; dull; "drab faded curtains";
"sober Puritan grey"; "children in somber brown clothes"
[syn: drab, sober, somber, sombre]
4: completely lacking in playfulness [syn: unplayful,
serious, sober] [ant: playful]
v 1: cause to become sober; "A sobering thought"
2: become more realistic; "After thinking about the potential
consequences of his plan, he sobered up" [syn: sober up,
sober]
3: become sober after excessive alcohol consumption; "Keep him
in bed until he sobers up" [syn: sober up, sober]