sigh

Noun · Verb

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. an utterance made by exhaling audiblySynonyms: suspiration
  2. a sound like a person sighing“she heard the sigh of the wind in the trees”

Verb (2)

  1. heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily“She sighed sadly”Synonyms: suspire
  2. utter with a sigh
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Sigh \Sigh\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sighed; p. pr. & vb. n. Sighing.] [OE. sighen, si?en; cf. also OE. siken, AS. s[imac]can, and OE. sighten, si?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. [1913 Webster]

2.Hence, to lament; to grieve. [1913 Webster]

He sighed deeply in his spirit.— Mark viii. 12.[1913 Webster]

3.To make a sound like sighing. [1913 Webster]

And the coming wind did roar more loud, And the sails did sigh like sedge.— Coleridge.[1913 Webster]
The winter winds are wearily sighing.— Tennyson.[1913 Webster]

Note: An extraordinary pronunciation of this word as s[imac]th is still heard in England and among the illiterate in the United States. [1913 Webster]


Sigh \Sigh\, v. t.

1.To exhale (the breath) in sighs. [1913 Webster]

Never man sighed truer breath.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

2.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.— Pior.[1913 Webster]

3.To express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs. [1913 Webster]

They . . . sighed forth proverbs.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
The gentle swain . . . sighs back her grief.— Hoole.[1913 Webster]

Sigh \Sigh\, n. [OE. sigh; cf. OE. sik. See Sigh, v. i.]

1.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.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

2.Figuratively, a manifestation of grief; a lan?ent. [1913 Webster]

With their sighs the air Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite.— Milton.[1913 Webster]
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