sob meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

sob

noun

UK /sɒb/ · US /sɑb/

Etymology From Middle English sobben, perhaps from Middle Low German sabben (“to drool, slobber, salivate”). Cognate with West Frisian sabje, sobje (“to suck”), Dutch zabben, sabbelen (“to suck”), zabberen (“to drool”), German Low German sabbeln, severn (“to drool”), German sabbern (“to drool, slobber”), Norwegian sabbe (“to spill, drop, make a mess”). Compare also Old English sēofian (“to lament”), German saufen (“to drink, swig”).

1

A cry with a short, sudden expulsion of breath.

2

Onomatopoeic The sound of sob.

“My husband, alas! whom I now (sob, sob) mourn, A short time since (sob) to this grave (sob) was borne; And (sob) he lies buried in this (sob, sob) grave.”1874, George Carter Stent, The Jade Chaplet in Twenty-four Beads, page 9:

Derived terms: lolsob, sobby, sobfest, sobful, sob sister, sob story, sob stuff

sob

verb

Etymology From Middle English sobben, perhaps from Middle Low German sabben (“to drool, slobber, salivate”). Cognate with West Frisian sabje, sobje (“to suck”), Dutch zabben, sabbelen (“to suck”), zabberen (“to drool”), German Low German sabbeln, severn (“to drool”), German sabbern (“to drool, slobber”), Norwegian sabbe (“to spill, drop, make a mess”). Compare also Old English sēofian (“to lament”), German saufen (“to drink, swig”).

1

To weep with convulsive gasps.

She was sobbing because she was feeling very miserable.
She sigh'd, she sobb'd, and, furious with despair, / She rent her garments, and she tore her hair.1697, Virgil, “Pastoral 5”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:

2

To say (something) while sobbing.

"He doesn't love me!" she sobbed.

sob

verb

Etymology See sop.

1

To soak.

the Tree, being sobbed and wet, ſwells the Wood1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and J[onathan] Robinson […], →OCLC:

Derived terms: sobby

sob

sob

sob

sob

Learn more