sigh

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English

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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

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[1]:
      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.
    • (Can we date this quote by Prior and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      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.
    • (Can we date this quote by Coleridge and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      And the coming wind did roar more loud, / And the sails did sigh like sedge.
    • (Can we date this quote by Tennyson and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      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
    • (Can we date this quote by Shakespeare and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      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.
    • (Can we date this quote by Shakespeare and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      They […] sighed forth proverbs.
    • (Can we date this quote by Hoole and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      The gentle swain […] sighs back her grief.

Synonyms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

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.
    • 1913, Eleanor Porter, Pollyanna, Chapter 7:
      To Pollyanna the air was all the more stifling after that cool breath of the out of doors; but she did not complain. She only drew a long quivering sigh.
  2. Figuratively, a manifestation of grief; a lament.
  3. (Cockney rhyming slang) A person who is bored.

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § 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

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